Starlight Gala nets record proceeds, crowd

The 2013 Starlight Gala netted $520,000 for the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter, well ahead of the $435,000 in 2012.

“The Band Perry proved to be the white-hot stars Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter and Presenting Sponsor General Mills needed to make the 2013 Starlight Gala shine more brightly than ever,” noted a statement from the shelter.

The 11th Starlight Gala was held April 27 at the John Q.Hammons Center in Rogers. (Link here for event coverage.)

Based on known and projected revenues and expenses as of today, the Children’s Shelter netted more than $520,000 this year, compared with $435,000 last year. This year’s net proceeds represent about 15% of the Children’s Shelter’s operating budget of $3.3 million.

Proceeds benefit the private, non-profit organization’s efforts to provide care, healing and hope for a better future to abused and neglected kids.

“The Starlight Gala has been one of the highest-profile and most successful charity events in Northwest Arkansas for the past few years,” Steve Schotta, executive director of the Children’s Shelter, said in the statement. “Having The Band Perry as our headliner maintains the Starlight Gala’s status as Northwest Arkansas’ premier fund-raising event, as evidenced by our record-breaking results. The Band Perry’s performance will enable us to help even more kids in crisis, providing them a place where the hurts they have experienced can begin to heal.”

As the Children’s Shelter’s largest fund-raiser, the Starlight Gala brings in three times more money than any other event and is crucial to the organization’s operations, as state reimbursement covers only 25% of the Children’s Shelter’s overall costs.

This year’s Gala had total of 63 sponsors. Last year’s had 45. This year’s attendance of more than 1,300 also topped last year’s mark of 1,170.