NOBLESVILLE — There were signs beyond the sell-out crowd of 465 at Saturday’s 17th annual Outfitters Benefit Gala that the night was going to be a banner fundraising evening.
There was the $2,000 winning bid for an oil painting and in-home interior design consultation that the winner donated back immediately to be auctioned again, fetching an additional $1,700.
There was the auctioneer who agreed to take bids on his own hat, which he was ultimately allowed to keep after fetching $700.
And then there was the dessert auction, during which guests compete by table, with the final ranking determining the order they get to select from an array of donated cakes. It raised $54,537 on Saturday compared to last year’s amount of about $33,000.
The total for the evening — which took place at Embassy Suites in Noblesville and supports the organization’s mission to provide quality clothing to children in need in South Madison County and beyond — was $178,661, an increase of almost $46,000 compared to last year.
“That’s just spectacular,” Outfitters Executive Director Carrie Bale said off stage shortly after announcing the total. “My goal, personally, was 150 (thousand dollars), so that — wow!”
The gala (which had and attendance of 315 last year) included cocktail hour, dinner, live music and dancing, along with presentations; silent, live and dessert auctions; raffles and more. The gala theme, Havana Nights, was celebrated in song, dance and decor.
Near the start of the evening, Bale told the crowd this year is going to be a year of “growth and planning for the future” for the non-profit.
She said Outfitters served 1,500 children in 2022, triple the number from the year before. In 2023, that number grew to 1,800.
Continued growth will come in part from being aware of where there’s a need and taking steps to meet it, she said.
She shared a story about how she recently started teaching at Highland Middle School, and there was going to be a student semi-formal. The students didn’t know what a semi-formal was and later said they didn’t own that type of clothing.
Bale said Outfitters gathered attire from its inventory and brought it into school.
Also at school, Bale said she heard a girl say in a low voice that she wished she could have a winter coat. Bale brought one in for the girl, who had missed some days of class, “and she hasn’t missed a day since.
“There are no barriers to running our services, other than transportation, and we’re working this year to (fix that),” Bale said.
Bale also thanked Outfitters’ volunteers, including a 30-name “laundry list” of people, those who are on call to come in and pick up donated clothing to take home, wash and bring back, ready to give away.
Outfitters has only two part-time employees, including herself, Bale said.
“We could not do what we do without our volunteers,” she said.
A short time later, Bale presented the Volunteer of the Year Award to Dee Fowler, who is on the laundry list.
Fowler assists in shopping, “many times in emergency situations and at the spur of a moment,” the evening’s program states. “She also recruits friends and family, as well.”
Kemper Electric received the Directors Business Partner of the Year Award for “helping us maintain our mission headquarters. The work they do keeps our building will lit and electrically safe,” according to the program.
Bale also announced the creation of an endowment fund with South Madison Community Foundation, intended to help secure the future of the organization.
Several people who attended the event said they came out just to support a good cause.
“Outfitters, they do great work,” said Nicholas Hill, who said Saturday was his third Outfitters gala.
Sam Hunt, vice president of CBET Restoration, explained why he bought the painting (along with the interior design consultation, which he said he didn’t know was included) during the package’s second and final sale during the live auction.
“Basically, just trying to donate to a good cause,” he said. “I mean, it’s a nice painting, but we really appreciated an opportunity to donate to a good cause.”
Next year’s gala is set for Feb. 22, and the plan is to return to Embassy Suites.
“We’re going to stay here,” Bale said. “We love the proximity to Pendleton and to Madison County.”
