University Foundation sets date for Gala

Some of Georgia Southern University’s most loyal supporters will gather on Friday, Nov. 5 for this year’s 1906 Society Gala, a Homecoming weekend tradition.

1906 Society members are invited to a cocktail reception with Georgia Southern President Brooks Keel and First Lady Tammie Schalue followed by an evening of entertainment. And, there is still time for those who are not yet 1906 Society members to receive an invitation.

This year’s celebration will feature “Gershwin on Broadway,” a performance by pianist Leon Bates and vocalists who will perform some of the classic music that made George Gershwin one of the legendary American composers of the 20th century. The trio performs across the country and their renditions of Gershwin’s music, along with their set of a New York City streetscape, transport audiences to the time when Gershwin’s impact was first felt in theaters and on stages around the world. Some of Gershwin’s most famous compositions include “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and “Summertime” from his ground-breaking opera “Porgy and Bess.”

This year’s event will be a black-tie, black-and-white gala that will reflect the classic elegance of the 1920s and `30s when Gershwin’s music was at the height of its popularity.

“Every 1906 Gala is special, but this one promises to be an event that our donors will remember for years to come,” said Keel. This 1906 Gala is the first for Keel and Schalue, who joined the University in January.

“Tammie and I are very excited about this evening because it will give us the opportunity to meet and speak with many of the University’s most loyal supporters,” said Keel. “Georgia Southern has grown and prospered thanks to the generous contributions of our 1906 Society members. I am looking forward to thanking them personally for the dedication they have shown the University.”

There is still time to attend the invitation-only event. Those who join the 1906 Society before October 15 will receive an invitation to this year’s Gala.

Membership in the 1906 Society is extended to contributors who make annual gifts of $1,200 or more to support the Georgia Southern University Foundation. When cumulative gift totals reach $12,000, donors become lifetime members of the 1906 Society.

Those interested in joining the 1906 Society can contact Wendell Tompkins at 912-478-GIVE (4483). Those who are already 1906 Society members may contact Melanie Mosley at 912-478-7621 for more information about this year’s Gala.