Great Hearts Gala
Great Hearts Academies held the Great Gatsby, its inaugural fundraising gala, Oct. 1 at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix. Proceeds from the event support teacher training and development across its network of 23 academies in Arizona. Almost 600 supporters turned out for the event.
The keynote speaker was Dr. William Bennett, former U.S. Secretary of Education under the Reagan administration and director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under George H.W. Bush. Bennett is also the author of The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories and The Children’s Book of Virtues. He hosts the syndicated radio show Morning in America.
Caribe Devine, 12 News meteorologist, emceed the evening. Bonnie and Jon Brovitz co-chaired the evening with Nicole and Billy Cundiff and Michele Davis.
Great Hearts is a nonprofit network of public charter schools dedicated to improving education nationwide through classical preparatory K-12 academies.
PHOTOS COURTESY GREAT HEARTS ACADEMIES
1st Lt. Joel K. Malkin, Janette Malkin, Connie Malkin and Randy Malkin
Bob Mulhern, Kathy Ariaratnam and Sam Ariaratnam
Gina Coletta, Valerie Guttman, Valerie McCombs, Susan Wood, Jeanette Neubeck and Ivonne Smith
Back: Scott Smith, Scott Lambrecht, Russ Scaramella, Todd Juhl and Greg Guglielmino. Front: Andrea Smith, Tiffany Lambrecht, Lori Scaramella, Jennifer Juhl and Erin Guglielmino
Monica Ambroson, Kim Smith, Michelle Batschelet, Donna Berry, Kelly Ross, Nicole Cundiff and Keri Noel
Jeanette Neubeck, Joel Neubeck, Ivonne Smith and William Smith
Todd and Keri Noel with Wendi and Chris Nations
Valerie McCombs, Ivonne Smith, Susan Wood and Jaye Rich
Lori and Russ Scaramella
Chuck and Deb Spotts with Sarah and John Dight
Jessica Sparks, student at Great Hearts Glendale Prep
Dr. William Bennett
Caribe Devine
Dr. William Bennett and Elayne Bennett with Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery
Scott and Andrea Smith with Jay and Carol Heiler
Jay Heiler, Great Hearts co-founder, and board president, Great Hearts Texas and Great Hearts America
