As far as black-tie events go, this is one that will be remembered for years to come. And the party ingredients are pretty enticing: French cuisine (sometimes hard to come by in B/CS) from Christopher’s World Grille, live music from Emerald City (a great dance band out of Dallas), live auction packages to drool over (like once-in-a-lifetime trips), opportunities to win gold and diamond jewelry, and a couple of surprises that you’ll just have to attend to see (and believe).
This year’s OPAS Gala on Saturday, January 28, features a theme taken from the ubiquitous Cirque du Soleil shows that are delighting audiences from New York and Las Vegas to Beijing and Paris. Gala organizers are hoping to similarly delight local patrons of the arts, who come out each year to support the programs of Texas A&M’s MSC OPAS. Funds generated from the Gala are used to bring world-class arts, culture, and entertainment to the Brazos Valley each year, and OPAS organizers continue to amaze local arts lovers with a stunning array of programs not usually available in communities the size of Bryan/College Station. The event is underwritten in part by Donna and Don Adam, American Momentum Bank.
Last year’s event raised $200,000 for OPAS, with a sold-out crowd of over 800 guests for the annual black-tie affair. According to this year’s co-chairs, Christopher and Sandi Lampo and Mark and Beverly Taylor, the 2012 Gala will be equally impressive.
“The gala is one of the biggest and best events we do in the Brazos Valley,” says Christopher Lampo. “In keeping with the French Canadian theme of Cirque du Soleil, everything about this year’s gala will have a French theme—including the food.”
According to co-chair Mark Taylor, this year’s event will offer a couple of surprises. “It’s always fun to be
surprised and delighted,” he says, “and we’ve lined up a few things that you don’t see at the average, run of the mill, gala event. They’re gonna be pleasantly surprised.”
This year’s live auction packages include a weeklong French vacation at a 16th Century Manor House in
Northern France (plus a stay in Paris), a Los Angeles trip to sit in the green room at Jimmy Kimmel Live (includes a hotel stay), a SeaDream Caribbean cruise, and an Azamara European cruise. And if you need something closer to home, they’ll also be auctioning off a Traditions Golf Outing with a dinner and overnight stay, a romantic weeknight getaway to the Inn At Dos Brisas, and a Lady Aggies Championship Basketball package that includes a Coach For The Day experience, Aggie apparel galore, Dave South’s voice on your voice mail greeting, and a basketball autographed by the entire Lady Aggies 2011 National Championship team.
Local jeweler, David Gardner’s Jewelers, has donated a Rolex Submariner watch ($8,000 value) and a diamond and gold necklace from Italian designer, Marco Bicego ($4,270 value) that will be raffled off at the gala. “This is a fun way to raise money for something that directly impacts what our community is able to offer to its residents,” says Lampo. “And the opportunities OPAS offers for A&M students to plug in and have a hand in some of these cultural experiences are literally once in a lifetime experience for them.”
The event is hosted by OPAS Encore!, a support organization for MSC OPAS. Table sponsorships ($2K to
$10K) and individual tickets ($150 each) are still available (see www.opasgala.com for contact info). The event is Saturday, January 28, 2012, from 7:00 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. at the Brazos County Expo Center. Complimentary valet parking will be provided by Aggie CARPOOL.
