One of Gateway’s oldest traditions is the Matters of the Mind Luncheon, a chance for our biggest supporters to celebrate our incredible students and teachers, and a fundraising event responsible for over 20% of Gateway’s fundraising budget each year. Normally, the GHS gym is transformed into a classy venue for guests to enjoy lunch and a live program featuring thought-provoking speakers (past keynotes have been delivered by Author Michael Lewis, former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, and David Plouffe, former Senior Advisor to President Obama).
For 2020, however, Gateway was charged with creating a virtual extravaganza that would capture the fun of a live event but allow everyone to participate safely at home. Leaning on lessons from the successful Great Gateway Gathering “telethon” last spring, Gateway staff built a mini-TV studio for a live broadcast that included students and staff emcees, videos about Gateway students’ experiences, and a live Q&A between Executive Director Sharon Olken and Paul Tough, a bestselling author and journalist who explores public education policy and practices in books such as How Children Succeed and The Years That Matter Most. Tough called in all the way from his home in New York, and discussed his findings about how post-secondary education can perpetuate systems of inequality even as it can launch fortunate individuals on a path of social mobility, as well as how schools like Gateway can help break that cycle.
Thanks to the generosity of our amazing community, Gateway raised more than $350,000 at this year’s “virtual luncheon.” These funds not only power the individual support and enrichment opportunities that enable us to graduate 100% of our students with a solid post-secondary education/career plan each year, but help us to address our students’ and families’ additional needs during this ongoing public health crisis.