The Mountaineers Virtual Gala 2021
Adventure with purpose
THURSDAY, April 29, 2021
virtual presentation
7pm- 8pm
Each spring we gather our community to celebrate our collective achievements and support future efforts to transform lives and protect wild places. With the pandemic preventing us from gathering in person, we hosted our second (and hopefully final) Gala virtually.
We were excited to see so many of our community tune in to help celebrate our volunteer award winners and support Mountaineers people, places, and publishing. You helped us not only reach our original goal of $360,000, but vastly surpass it! We're still tallying the final results, but we're elated to share that you helped us raise more than $362,000. Thank You!
If you happened to miss the live event, don’t worry! You can still watch the whole program on YouTube.
We celebrated our community of Mountaineers volunteers, including the 2020 Org-Wide Volunteer Award winners Tom Bancroft, Patti Polinksy, Travis Prescott, and Matt & Joni Swenson, with a one-of-a-kind awards show. The show also included two special performances from the Musical Mountaineers, one being the show’s grand finale following the close of the online auction.
See the full recap with highlights below:
raise the paddle: Donate today
At The Mountaineers, we rely on your participation to sustain our vision. Your financial contributions help us expand our programs and widen our reach. A tradition of generous gifts of time and money from our members and volunteers inspires all of us to be leaders.
The gala is our biggest fundraiser of the year with the event's proceeds directly supporting The Mountaineers various efforts to get more people outside. This includes supporting our volunteers, producing our over 800 book titles, sustaining our youth programs, and continuing our conservation efforts.
We have a goal to raise $360,000 and deeply appreciate the continued generosity of our members and supporters who help make the magic of Mountaineers programs possible.
Ready to raise your paddle early? Click the button below!
volunteer awards: presenting the 2020 award winners
Every year, thousands of volunteers generously donate hundreds of thousands of hours in support of our people, places, and publishing. At this year’s virtual gala, we are honored to celebrate a few standout individuals who went the extra mile for our community of recreationists and conservationists in 2020.
Congratulations to our 2020 award winners:
- LEADERSHIP IN YOUTH EDUCATION: MATT & JONI SWENSON
- LEADER OF THE YEAR: PATTI POLINSKY
- THE MOUNTAINEERS SERVICE AWARD: TOM BANCROFT AND TRAVIS PRESCOTT
*Typically, The Mountaineers organization-wide awards are celebrated at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Circumstances prohibit us from hosting that event this year and we are delighted to shine light on these outstanding individuals and their contributions at this year’s virtual gala.
SPECIAL GUEST: THE MUSICAL MOUNTAINEERS
Tonight, Jordan Hanssen and his trusty rowboat, Clarabelle, will be joined by Rose Freeman and Anastasia Allison of the Musical Mountaineers for a truly unique musical experience. Until now, only a lucky few have ever seen one of their elusive performances in the wild, where hikers are treated to the soothing sounds of a violin and piano in the backcountry. In a series of TinyBoatSessions, Rose and Anastasia will row onto our screens for a special public performance. This dynamic duo are skilled hikers and climbers, active members of the PNW outdoor community, and members of our Everett Branch.
Check out this sneak preview:
TICKETS: FREE TO ATTEND
The Mountaineers 2021 Fundraising Gala is virtual and free to attend! Watch from the comfort of your home and all are welcome to join.
The livestream will begin with a pre-event show at 6:30pm (PDT), with a special green carpet sneak peek at 6:50pm (PDT). Opening remarks will begin promptly at 7pm (PDT) and can be viewed on YouTube Live.
auction: BID ON OVER 60 PACKAGES! (NOW CLOSED)
 |
 |
 |
 |
After weeks of pining after your potential new vacation, experience, or awesome gear featured in The Mountaineers online auction...your moment has finally come. It’s time to place your bids!
Participation is simple and easy. Here’s what you need to know:
- First, register to bid. You’ll have a full week to participate and if someone outbids you, you’ll receive a notification by text or email. Bid high and bid often!
- All auction hopefuls will need to register to bid, regardless of whether they’ve pre-registered to attend the live program on April 29.
- You can register by clicking on the blue ‘Get Started’ button on the auction site.
pod socials: get social with pod socials
Missing your social life? Get social with Pod Socials! A Pod Social is a fun and informal opportunity to gather your coursemates, adventure buddies, family members, and furry friends online for a quick and virtual happy hour before the Gala. Everyone is invited to host or join a Pod Social! The first 25 folks to register to host a Pod Social will be entered to win one of two prize packs valued at over $100.
meals: kaspars catering (now closed)
Reservations for four-course meals from Kaspars Catering are now closed!
Questions & Sponsorship
Do you have any questions about purchasing a ticket or making a donation? Contact Amber Carrigan at 206-521-6004.
Interested in becoming a corporate sponsor or supporting as an auction donor? Contact Sarah MacGillivray at 206-521-6026 for more information.