Grace Christian Academy Raises $110,000 at 3rd Annual Gala

FALLS CHURCH, VA - From Grace Christian Academy: On Sunday, April 28, 2019, Grace Christian Academy (GCA) hosted its third annual fundraising gala at the McLean Hilton. This year’s gala was themed “One for the Books” and featured New York Times bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones. The gala included live and silent auctions featuring prizes donated by Falls Church artists and businesses.

Proceeds from the gala exceeded $110,000 and will be used towards Grace Christian Academy’s robust tuition assistance program. Principal Patrick Hurley, in his remarks at the gala, quoted the GCA school handbook and frequent credo when he said, “No child will be denied a Christian education because of financial hardship.”

Sponsors of the event, which was attended by 150 school supporters, included McLean-based Eberle Communications Group, Alliance-Bernstein, MDI Imaging, D&D Unlimited, Kingdom Workers, Thrivent Financial-Dulles Group, Jerry and Kay Fischer, Glen and Teresa Thomas, Mary Burke Baker, and Carl and Roberta Berquist.

The evening began with a VIP cocktail reception and book signing with Sally Lloyd-Jones, most famous for her Jesus Storybook Bible, followed by a silent auction featuring prizes from individuals and local artists and businesses. Items included golf trips, handmade items, sports and theater tickets, weekend getaways at the Laurel Grove Inn and Kingsmill resort, a cooking class for two at Tastemakers DC, jewelry from Alex and Ani and Kendra Scott, custom art by Soleil Fine Art, Revelation Sign Studio, and Syncopation Art+Design, and classroom creations by the scholars of Grace Christian Academy.

The dinner reception, sponsored by Eberle Communications Group, featured an invocation by Pastor Kevin Wattles, Grace Lutheran Church, entertainment by the scholars of GCA, remarks by Principal Patrick Hurley and author Sally-Lloyd Jones, as well as a spirited live auction which featured trips, steak for a year, a Flag of Valor, and an original painting by Falls Church artist Helen Power. A mid-auction “feeding frenzy” included gift cards donated by many local restaurants including Clare and Don’s, Panjshir, DC Steakholders, Anthony’s, and Dice Burger. The Storybook Ending after-party featured entertainment by the Down Wilson band.

Grace Christian Academy has been providing a Christian college preparatory education to its scholars since 1973. Located in Fairfax County, just minutes from Washington, DC, Grace serves a diverse student body and is accredited with exemplary status by WELSSA (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation), ACTS (Association of Christian Teachers and Schools), NCPSA (National Council for Private School Accreditation), and is recognized as a fully accredited private school in the Commonwealth of Virginia by the VCPE (Virginia Council for Private Education) as authorized by the Virginia Board of Education.