Mount Saint Mary College’s 17th Annual Gala on Thursday, October 1 honored community pillars Sims and Kirsten Foster and netted approximately $180,000 to directly support scholarships for Mount students.
The event, held at the West Hills Country Club in Middletown, N.Y., achieved the highest net in the history of the Gala. The proceeds will be used to support the Mount’s Donor Scholarship Fund. This fund is used as a safety net to assist students who find themselves on the brink of having to discontinue their education. The average award is approximately $2,500.
The Gala’s record-breaking success was bolstered by an enthusiastic live auction led by Joseph A. Bonura, a well-respected local restaurateur, and Ann Patsalos-Enriquez, a Mount trustee. Their hard work, creativity, and relationships were instrumental in securing amazing auction items and generating a fun, memorable atmosphere for bidding.
The Fosters, co-founders of Foster Supply Hospitality, were honored with the Joseph A. Bonura Award for Leadership Excellence, named after the restaurateur. The couple was recognized for their commitment to hospitality, local partnerships, and community building. The couple's company includes a collection of hotels and restaurants rooted in the Sullivan Catskills.
“Mount Saint Mary College [is] a community that, as we got to know more and more over the years, we quickly discovered that we wanted to be part of,” noted Kirsten Foster. “We instantly connected to this positivity and this energy... and we realized that we wanted to also be part of the positive change that is happening in this community in Newburgh.”
Sims Foster added, “We feel an obligation to this community to do our best…to be part of the next chapter’s positive narrative, and the momentum that's going to lift all of our boats.”
Lou Bach ’82, Chair of the Mount’s Board of Trustees and a proud alumnus of the School of Business, expressed his gratitude for the college’s broad base of support. “As I look around the room, I see so many familiar faces and I truly appreciate everything that everyone does, not only for the Mount, but for our community as a whole,” Bach said. “Everything that we do is really for the students at Mount Saint Mary College.”
Dr. Robert Gervasi, president of Mount Saint Mary College, took the opportunity to share an exciting update about the college's curriculum: The addition of an Aviation major.
“As you know, the Mount is constantly looking forward, we are always seeking new pathways that prepare our students for high-demand, high-impact careers right here in the Hudson Valley and beyond,” Gervasi said. “Tonight, I am thrilled to share that the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation has awarded a $10,000 grant to Mount Saint Mary College to help us get our new Aviation program off the ground.”
Nikki Khurana-Baugh, vice president for Advancement, noted that Mount scholarships provide an affordable, values-based education to thousands of deserving students, many of whom are among the first in their families to attend college.
“These dollars directly support scholarships for Mount students,” she said. “Together, we had a fantastic evening and made an extraordinary investment in our students and their futures.”
She added, “It was such a joy to honor Sims and Kirsten Foster and officially welcome them into the Mount family. They were wonderful honorees, and we are so grateful for the enthusiasm, generosity, and spirit they brought to the entire evening.”
Khurana-Baugh thanked the local leaders who sponsored the event. Pepsi Cola of the Hudson Valley, served as the Presenting Sponsor. Platinum Sponsors included Christina Bart Bilsky ’85 & Dr. Mark Bilsky, and the Kaplan Family Foundation. The Gold Sponsor was Oculus IT. The Silver Sponsors included Lynne Ejercito Class of 1977; Trustee Bill Fioravanti and his wife, Biz Rowley; and Webster Bank, which has served our community for decades.
Additional donations, including $25,000 from Jimmy and Nancy Smith in honor of the Dominican Sisters and $10,000 from the Kaplan Family Foundation, in honor of Joe Bonura and the entire Bonura Family, were also announced at the Gala.
To donate to Mount scholarships, contact Khurana-Baugh at 845-569-3216 or Nikki.Khurana-Baugh@msmc.edu.
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