High Notes Gala - Interim Sponsorship Report

High Notes Gala - Interim Sponsorship Report
Posted on 03/06/2019

Twenty-four days to go! Thanks to major sponsor Air Products, and many other generous supporters, the Allentown School District Foundation will raise more than $120,000 from its annual High Notes Gala.  The Gala will take place on March 30 at Miller Symphony Hall and features Allentown secondary students who are VERY talented.  The 9th Annual HIGH NOTES Gala promises to be a fun, fast-paced affair, with an international buffet-style dinner and student production.

Air Products Logo“Air Products has been a proud sponsor of this event from the beginning, and we could not be more grateful as a community for the support provided to the students of Allentown,” says Kurt D. Zwikl, ASDF President.

“Air Products is proud to support the Allentown School District Foundation as it works together with the community to support ASD students and teachers,” said Laurie Hackett, Air Products, Philanthropy and Community Relations. “High Notes is a unique event that celebrates our talented students from across the district and we are honored to provide support!”

Of the 50 or more corporate sponsors this year, additional major commitments come from Alvin H. Butz Co., Duggan and Marcon, Firstrust Bank, Gallagher Insurance and Risk Management, Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd., PPL Corporation and major individual contributors Sara “JoJo” and Anthony M. Muir, Esq., Yvonne and Frank Schweighardt, Ph.D., and Anita and John Stevens, Jr., D.O.

There are many local food vendors that provide in kind support for the student rehearsals, including Abarta Coca-Cola, Costco, Giant Foods Stores, Johnny’s Bagels, Just Born, Mary Ann Donuts, Nestle Waters, Philly Pretzel Factory, Profits Plus, Inc., Venny’s Pizza and Restaurant, and Big Woody’s Bar and Grill, among others.

A basket raffle at the event will be possible thanks to Josh Early Candies and Jenny’s Gift Baskets, with proceeds going directly to the secondary schools.

The Foundation has already received more than 40 individual gifts to support the Broadway bus trip for student participants in June to see the musical, The Prom, and over 15 non-profits have offered free summer camp scholarships for more than 120 students this summer including the Allentown Art Museum, Artsquest, Baum School of Art Summer Art Camp, City Arts Camp, Baum School of Art, City of Allentown Parks & Recreation Department, Community Bike Works, Community Music School Lehigh Valley, Da Vinci Science Center, Escher Studios: Voice Lessons, Oakmont Tennis Club, Penn State Lehigh Valley Summer Youth Camp, Touchstone Theatre, Wells Fargo Lehigh Career and Technical Institute Summer Camp, WLEV-FM Radio and the Wildlands Conservancy.

Media exposure has included in kind support from Eric Butz, photographer, Media People, Inc., the Morning Call, Printforce and WFMZ-TV.

“Since the ASD Foundation is solely dependent on gifts and grants to serve our students, we are grateful for every donor who believes in our work,” says Susan L. Williams, ASDF Executive Director.

In the past year, 8,958 Allentown School District students were able to participate in innovative enrichment programs that, without the support of donors like Air Products would not have been possible.  Every year, we like to say: If you could help Allentown students experience academic, athletic and cultural activities many of us take for granted, wouldn’t you want to?  The good news is you can.

The Gala production includes more than 120 students from William Allen High School, Louis E. Dieruff High School, and Trexler, Harrison-Morton, South Mountain and Raub Middle Schools. Students unite to open and close the show while promoting and celebrating the diverse and talented student body that makes up the Allentown School District.  The production is filled with short acts and music from Allentown’s best student performance groups and this year, four students will serve as emcees. Groups include the Canary Cavaliers Jazz Band, the WAHS Dance Academy, Dieruff’s Select Choir, Dieruff Jazz Band, WAHS Chorale and award-winning theatre students performing snippets from the 2019 spring musicals.

TalentThe 2019 Gala theme is “Allentown has Talent.”  The Foundation-sponsored production is a showcase of the City’s school spirit and the District’s rich diversity. Starting at 8:00 pm, the production includes excerpts from each of the high school and middle school spring musicals this year: Sister Act (Allen HS), Once on This Island (Dieruff HS), Godspell, Jr. (Trexler & Raub MS), Wonka, Jr. (South Mountain MS), and Annie, Jr. (Harrison-Morton MS).

One of the reasons that the ASDF hosts the HIGH NOTES Gala is to provide direct support to the secondary theatre and music programs. Net proceeds also sustain the Foundation’s operation, making possible current and traditional ASDF initiatives, such as:

  • An Allentown Adventure
  • Artist Residencies
  • ASD Science Fair
  • ASD Showcase of Academic Excellence
  • College Scholarships
  • Conduit Project: William Allen Canary Baseball Field
  • Conduit Project: Louis E. Dieruff Learning Dome
  • Conduit Project: Louis E. Dieruff Auditorium Upgrade
  • Homeless and School Uniform Grants
  • K-12 Music Initiatives
  • National History Day
  • Summer Camp Scholarships
  • Teacher Innovation Grants
  • Volunteer Literacy Program


Sponsorships Available

Sponsorships are available and range from $300 to $25,000. Program advertising, table purchase or a combination of support ranges from Broadway Bus sponsorships of $300 to a Dinner & a Show ticket of $150 per person. The fundraising goal this year is $120,000 with one-third supporting the Foundation’s operation and one-third contributed back to the music and theatre programs of the secondary schools. HIGH NOTES is high visibility. Contact Susan Williams to support the Foundation with gala sponsorships – [email protected], 484-765-4093. 


Allentown School District Foundation

With a vision for enriched education for Allentown School District students, the ASD Foundation mission is to encourage, promote and support innovative educational experiences for students in the Allentown School District. If you would like to learn more, please contact the foundation at 484-765-4093 or [email protected]. The mailing address is P.O. Box 328, 31 South Penn Street, Allentown PA 18105. www.asdf.allentownsd.org.

####