A Chance to Shine: The Second Annual Madison ABC Gala

The Second Annual Madison ABC Gala, held on March 19th at the beautiful Madison Beach Hotel, was truly a chance to shine—and a night our community will not soon forget. With a packed house of supporters, the energy in the room was undeniable from the moment guests arrived.

We are deeply grateful to the Madison Beach Hotel and its General Manager, John Mathers, for their continued generosity and support of community events like ours. Under John's leadership, the hotel once again provided a warm and elegant setting that made the evening truly special. Guests enjoyed a wonderful dinner as friends, families, and supporters gathered to celebrate the mission of Madison ABC and our incredible young scholars at the heart of it all.

The generosity of our community was felt throughout the evening; from the 50-50 raffle to the silent auction to a wonderfully feisty live auction. The silent auction featured a wide range of thoughtful and exciting items, including yoga classes, tennis instruction, car detailing packages, and curated selections of fine wines. The live auction brought even more excitement, with unforgettable experiences such as vacation weekend homes, a pickleball party, professional basketball game, and even an African safari.

This special evening was made possible by the leadership and dedication of our Event Co-Chairs, Sarah Seehusen and Stephanie Clark, alongside Gala committee members Moira Agovino and Bryony Aviles. We are also incredibly grateful to the many volunteers whose time, energy, and care brought every detail of the night to life—it truly took many hands to create such a special event.

We extend our sincere thanks as well to our generous Platinum sponsors: Esau Sullivan, Alumnus, Brescome  Barton, Inc. Jacobsen, Buxton, Demetrio Wealth Management at UBS, the Ascend Bank and Madison Foundation. Our Gold sponsors: Acrisure and Tyco. And our Silver sponsors: Donald Ingham, Olando & Son Painting, LLC, Madison Hoop Dreams, Madison Rotary, Madison Wine Exchange, The Seehusen Family, William Stableford, The Weiss Family, and Yoars Law, LLC. All of our sponsors' support plays a vital role in making this event—and our mission—possible.

Guests were inspired by heartfelt remarks from our President, Kevin Kranzler, and we were honored to recognize the extraordinary impact of our Resident Advisors, Holly and Darrin McCalla, whose daily commitment to our scholars is immeasurable.

A particularly moving moment came as Michael Card shared his experience as a “brother” to beloved alumnus Asa Palmer, whose life was cut far too short. His tribute was a powerful reminder of the lasting bonds formed through Madison ABC and the importance of continuing to support our scholars in Asa’s memory. As part of this tribute, the auctioneer called out donation amounts in support of Asa’s scholarship fund. Paddles rose across the room quickly, generously, and again and again in a powerful display of unity and support that deeply moved everyone in attendance.

As the evening continued, the celebration carried onto the dance floor, a joyful reflection of a community coming together not only to support a cause, but to celebrate it.

We are endlessly thankful to everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, and supported this event. Your generosity ensures that Madison ABC scholars have the opportunity to grow, succeed, and truly shine.