Interview with Mary Lawson, ICA Gala Chair

Mary Lawson is a Chairperson for the ICA Gala Committee, along with her husband, George. The committee (shown in the picture to the right, Mary is in the front row on the left in green) has been meeting about once a month for the past six months, spending a lot of time planning the event. With all the effort that goes into the event, we wondered, what makes Mary Lawson get excited about ICA, and willing to invest so much time and energy? The following interview will help explain.

What made you decide to volunteer with ICA?

I first learned of the ICA/Cristo Rey program through our family matriarch, Jeanie. Her brother in law, Dick Jonsen, met Mary Francis Callan, ICA Board Member, at a Santa Clara Board of Regents meeting. Mary Francis extolled the virtues of the new work/study emphasis at ICA to Dick and he encouraged Jeanie to get involved. Through Jeanie’s leadership, enthusiasm and support, we now have a Gala committee that is 18 members strong! George and I are pleased to be able to see the Gala come to fruition for a second year!

What do you tell people about ICA…

Knowing that the ICA graduate will have four years of corporate work experience on her college application is incredibly exciting! This real life experience, coupled with four years of Dominican inspired education, insures that the ICA student will standout in the crowd of college applicants. ICA has been serving the young women of the Mission District since 1883. Thus, these auspicious San Francisco roots now have a 21^st century outlook. The ICA/Cristo Rey education provides these young women with a spring board to the future!

Why does ICA put on this Gala?

The Gala over the last 4 years has proved to have two distinct components. The first is a fundraising opportunity which supplements the annual budget for this work/study program. Last year we raised $200,000 to aide in covering the cost of transporting the students to the front door of their jobs: to help cover the cost of uniforms; and to enhance the budget when a non-profit employs students but cannot afford the cost of a team. Secondly, the Gala is the perfect venue to garner interest in and to educate our community about ICA and how it benefits the young women in San Francisco’s inner city. Each year we feel blessed as we see our volunteer commitments flourish, our gala attendance surge and our donations escalate.

What has been the most challenging part of planning the GALA?

With the fledgling ICA/Cristo Rey program only going into its 4th year, it has been a challenge to educate donors while requesting a contribution or attendance! Spreading the word about this innovative work/study model is vital to our success, now and in the future. This calling is also the greatest joy since expounding about the benefits of “Education that Works” is so easy to do!

What do you enjoy most about planning the Gala?

Working with a talented, inspirational and creative group of women, both on the committee and on the ICA staff, has been a great joy. Our committee grows with each year and the energy and devotion does as well. We have a great time, we laugh, we work hard and we are all committed to helping make the ICA/Cristo Rey model successful. Planning and executing the Gala is a labor of love for all and the excitement is building with only 16 more days to go until we unveil the 2011 event!

To come to the Gala or not?..

You are invited to join us as we celebrate the new direction of ICA and the continued good works of the Dominican Sisters and the Jesuit based Cristo Rey program. Come directly from work, have a drink, catch up with friends, enjoy a delectable meal and prepare to be inspired! This year we are thrilled to have the elegant Palace Hotel as our venue. The Palace Hotel and Immaculate Conception Academy share the same sense of history and purpose with the city by the bay since the late 1800’s. Both establishments have been renewed and updated recently and are ready to go bravely into the future. ..better that ever!

The auction committee has garnered some fabulous items! Our website..www.icacademy.org..will give you all the highlights to whet your appetite! We have an amazing raffle, too! If you cannot attend, you can support our cause by donating online as well. The evening’s program is heartfelt and insightful and will leave you marveling about the work/study high school model. We hope to see you there!