The Van Wezel Foundation (Foundation) held its 20th annual Inspiration Gala on Thursday, January 27, 2022, raising more than $1.7 million. This level of funding makes the 20th annual Inspiration Gala the most successful fundraising event in the Foundation’s history. During the gala, it was also announced that the first $20 million in private funding for the future Sarasota Performing Arts Center was committed by the Foundation Board. The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception and was followed by an elegant dinner, live auction, and inspiring program, complete with a surprise appearance by Harry Connick Jr. himself, and the honoring of local educators, Maria Schaedler-Luera, the recipient of the 2022 Appleton Arts Integration Award, and Jillianne Abbott and Talia Casey, the recipients of the 2022 Van Wezel Foundation Merit Scholarships, all with beautiful Sarasota Bay as the backdrop. The evening concluded with a spectacular performance from Grammy® and Emmy® Award-winner Harry Connick Jr. in the storied Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Susan Travers and Kathy Martella served as co-chairs for this year’s Inspiration Gala alongside a host committee of dedicated benefactors. “We are ready to launch our next phase in realizing a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center to serve the region, state and nation for generations to come, and we look forward to working closely with the city of Sarasota, Sarasota County, our public partners and stakeholders on this iconic civic asset,” said Cheryl Mendelson, Foundation CEO. 

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