Gwynedd Gala, a Highlight of the Year
One of the final events of spring, GMercyU’s Student Activities Committee (SAC) hosted its first-ever Gwynedd Gala in early May at The Warrington venue. It was the perfect opportunity for students to celebrate the end of the year while supporting a worthy cause.
The sold-out charity ball raised more than $4,000 for St. Vincent’s Villa of Baltimore, Md., a residential behavioral health treatment center for children ages 12 and under who’ve experienced trauma or have mental health concerns.
St. Vincent’s was one of several non-profit organizations that students visited in 2023 during a GMercyU Alternative Spring Break trip. There, students helped with the maintenance of a nature trail and attended classes with the children.
St. Vincent’s made such an impression on Social Work major Erin Huggard ’25 that it inspired her to create the Gwynedd Gala to support it. Erin worked with her SAC colleagues on the event, including Public Health major Samantha Peralte ’25, who also attended the 2023 Baltimore trip and led the marketing efforts of the sold-out gala.
“I personally was inspired by the teachers and organization for their work. Dr. Amy [Vaughn] doesn’t let the children’s history or family problems change the way she treats them,” Erin said of Dr. Amy Vaughan-Roland, Therapeutic Ecology Teacher at St. Vincent’s.
Dr. Vaughn-Roland attended the Gwynedd Gala, where she graciously accepted the funds raised for St. Vincent’s.
“So many students, staff, and faculty showed up to support such a meaningful cause. The support SAC got was amazing as well, with all the different clubs supporting with all the raffle baskets they made,” Erin said. “I am amazed with the turnout of this event and I can’t wait to do it again!”
The SAC has plans to make the Gwynedd Gala an annual event, with the next one tentatively scheduled for April 12, 2025.