Gala Co-Chairs Ally & Aaron Bubb and Katie LaCourt & John Donoghue invite you to join us for an evening of delight celebrating SJA — decadent dining, scrumptious cocktails, spirited silent & live auctions, and an inspiring program. ALL, of course, centered on our students — who are the most delightful part of our gala year after year!
What: SJA's 30th Annual Gala Where: St. Joan Antida High School, 1341 N. Cass St., Milwaukee Wis. When: Saturday, April 29, 2023
UPDATE:Gala tables and individual tickets are sold out! A limited number of class of '73 Jubilarian tickets are still available. To be added to our waitlist for tickets, please email: Development@SaintJoanAntida.org with the number of tickets needed and we will contact you should any become available.
Each year we create a Wish Tree that holds all of the wishes from our staff that would give them the opportunity to better support our school. Wondering what is on the list?
Interested in becoming a sponsor or underwriter for our 2023 Gala? Reach out to our development team: development@saintjoanantida.org or review our sponsorship and underwriting opportunities below.
Interested in donating an item for our Silent/Live Auction at the 2023 Gala? Reach out to our development team: development@saintjoanantida.org or complete the donation form below.
Help us build our silent auction for the 2023 Gala by donating an item from our Amazon Wish List! Purchase items directly through your Amazon account and have them shipped directly to the school. Be sure to indicate your name on the gift receipt so our team can issue you an acknowledgement for your donation.
Volunteering to support SJA in the run up to the Gala or on the day makes a huge difference! Contribute a few hours or a few days to support SJA in making our Gala a reality. Fill out the form below or reach out to our Community Engagement Coordinator Allison Loyd to sign up!
The 2023 Trailblazer in Women's Leadership Award Recipient: Laura Gutiérrez '91
As a leader across many industries, a passionate community advocate, and a life-long educator devoted to improving the lives of young people, Laura Gutiérrez ’91 embodies the true definition of a trailblazer.
Gutiérrez currently serves as the CEO of the United Community Center (UCC), one of the largest non-profits in Milwaukee. The UCC serves clients on the city’s southside, ages six weeks to 100+ years of age, in programs from Early Childhood Education to elderly care. Gutiérrez is the first female CEO in the agency’s 53-year history and has led the UCC through one of its most challenging chapters during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. With broad agency closures, Gutiérrez and the UCC leadership team fought to continue services to all client groups, including being one of the only public schools in the city of Milwaukee to re-open in September 2020 for in-person learning. With the client and community needs as a core priority, Gutiérrez works collaboratively with leaders on her team to ensure services continue in any format possible.
Prior to joining the United Community Center, Gutiérrez held several leadership positions within private and public education, including serving as Assistant Principal and Director of Instruction at Bruce Guadalupe Community School and Vice President of Academic Affairs at St. Anthony School. Most recently, Gutiérrez served as Secretary of the Department of Safety and Professional Services for the state of Wisconsin, overseeing a staff of more than 250 and managing a biennial budget of $100M.
A native of Milwaukee’s southside, Gutiérrez graduated from St. Joan Antida High School in 1991 and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Carroll University and a master’s degree in Leadership and Policy from Marquette University. She also completed the District Administrator Licensure Program at Cardinal Stritch University and received her Superintendent license in 2016.
Gutiérrez has been recognized for her leadership and impact on the community through a variety of awards, including Milwaukee Business Journal’s “Women of Influence” in 2021 and being named to the “Milwaukee-area Power Brokers” list. She was also named a 2022 Marquette University “Alumni National Award” recipient and received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement in College of Arts and Sciences from Carroll University. She’s actively engaged in the community, serving on the board for the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread and Waukesha State Bank, and is an active member of Tempo and Milwaukee Women Inc., an organization focused on increasing the representation of women on boards of directors to improve Wisconsin businesses.
Gutiérrez will be honored with the Trailblazer in Women’s Leadership Award on Saturday, April 29, during
St. Joan Antida High School’s 30th annual Gala celebration. Learn more at:www.saintjoanantida.org/gala
About the Trailblazer Award:
More than 68 years ago, the Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida were trailblazers in creating a place where they sought to educate and empower young women from all backgrounds. Today, St. Joan Antida High School (SJA) is Milwaukee’s premier all-girl urban high school located in the heart of downtown.
Established in 2016, the Trailblazer in Women's Leadership Award acknowledges important women in our community who are trailblazers in their career and whose life and actions reflect the mission of St. Joan Antida High School. Recipients of this award are role models for our students and reflect the school's work to educate and empower young women who lead and serve in a global society.
2023 Community and Corporate Partnership Award Recipient:
Our 2023 Recipient will be announced soon!
About the Community Partner Award
The Community and Corporate Partnership Award was created to provide notable recognition to the Southeastern Wisconsin organizations that take a stake in our work, and in the young women whom we serve. They make profound investments in our mission, often providing lead support for major strategic initiatives. And this year’s recipient has been supporting the St. Joan’s mission in a multitude of ways, including this event for numerous years.
