Mardi Gras was celebrated in Fine Arts Center style at our 16th Annual Gala & Auction, held on February 5th at the Log Cabin. Adorned with Mardi Gras beads and masks, a sold out capacity crowd of 440 guests enjoyed a sumptuous New Orleans feast prepared by the Log Cabin, danced to the tunes of the Jeff Holmes Band and the Ethel Lee Ensemble, and bid on more than 100 items in live and silent auctions.

One of the evening's highlights was the Fine Arts Center Artist of the Year award presentation to Michael Haley. Michael is a (don't have my invite at home)seven-time Emmy Award winner and Golden Globe winner for his efforts as producer, co-producer UMass alumnus and is a. He is a UMass alumnus and lives with his wife Joan in Conway, Massachusetts.

Our newly added live auction run by auctioneer Kathy Kingston really kept everyone on their toes! Bidding was fierce and fun as guests joined in the merriment vying for such priceless treasures as an outing to a New York City jazz club with Billy Taylor; a Wilde Irish Women Party at the home of Rosemary Caine and Howard Nathenshorn (please check his name spelling on FAC list); photo safaris to South Africa; an evening of hockey at the Mullins Center hosted by Chancellor Lombardi and a golf outing with President Jack Wilson; and a trip to Jamaica.

The silent auction also hosted spectacular getaways in the US and abroad, fabulous jewelry, and original artwork from renowned artists Leonard Baskin and Richard Yarde among others. New donors as well as our loyal Gala supporters made possible a broad variety and ultimately helped to raise just under $38,000 for education access programs at the Fine Arts Center.

The evening's success was confirmed with our final fundraising figures representing over a 60% increase over last year's net proceeds! The proceeds benefit our Education Access programs—serving over 16,000 youths in the Pioneer Valley and representing performing and visual arts programs, residencies, school performances, and workshops.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this wonderful evening: The Log Cabin, The Daily Hampshire Gazette, WEIB 106.3 Smooth FM, Northampton Cooperative Bank and all our sponsors, our silent auction donors and our guests.