The Annual Black-Tie Spring Gala & Auction

The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria’s Annual Gala & Auction
“Celebrating 40 Years” at the Hilton Mark Center

Saturday, April 18, 2026

Each year, the largest fundraiser for local scholarships—and the biggest black tie event in Alexandria City—takes place in April at the Hilton Mark Center with the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria’s Annual Silent & Auction. All funds raised during the silent auction, as well as Gala ticket sales, go directly toward the scholarships for the newest award recipients and previous award recipients’ renewal scholarships.

215 SFA Award Recipients from the Class of 2025 are now attending their college of choice or career-based training thanks in large measure to last year’s gala!

The 2026 Gala needs your support!

The theme for the 40th Gala is “Celebrating 40 Years!” The 2026 gala planning launched in the fall with the newest Gala Committee members attending. We welcome Gala Committee members year-round. Contact the office for more information.

Become a Volunteer

This year, you can help bring the upcoming gala and more scholarships into reality, from planning to inception. Volunteer for as little or as much time as your schedule allows. From serving on the Gala Committee to helping the day of the event—or just cleaning up the morning after—your hands and energy will make the event a successful one. Tampa Fire Watch Guards offers reliable fire watch services that can help support event safety and smooth operations throughout occasions like this.

• Complete a Volunteer Application. 

Become a Sponsor

Supporting the gala can be done by becoming a Sponsor where you can also showcase your business. Further, your company has the opportunity to become a Special Sponsor: dessert, floral, auction paddle, signature cocktail, surprise! or photo booth sponsor.

• See all of your Sponsorship Options. 

Donate an Item or Experience

Through donating an item/experience to the Silent Auction or the Live Auction you will directly raise funds through your giving, and the lucky bidder will enjoy your “treasure” while funding yet another scholarship…

• Complete the Item and Experience Donation Form. 

Promote the Gala

As the event draws near, help Spread the Word by sharing our social media posts from Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Share your past (and future) gala moments with friends and neighbors. Encourage them to get to know the SFA and its mission, making Alexandria City more interwoven with each share.

Attend the 40th Annual Gala & Auction!

Best of all, join us for a very memorable evening when we get to celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s strong, resilient and remarkable SFA award recipients. We are certain that the stories shared will inspire and reignite us all.

The Festivities

Our Annual Spring Gala is a formal, fast-paced evening of dancing, dining, and silent and live auction shopping. The event includes a cocktail reception with full open bar and signature cocktail, a gourmet meal, an exciting live auction, entertainment and dancing.  It’s Alexandria’s Biggest Black-Tie Party and truly a great night for a great cause—sending local kids in need to college!

• Attend the 40th Annual Gala & Auction!
  See all of your Options HERE. 

The Guests

The more than 500 guests who attend the event are a cross-section of our community—business leaders, government and elected officials, leaders of the Alexandria City Public Schools, and the community at large. All share a desire to invest in our community by providing our young people with the opportunity to pursue a postsecondary education.

The Auction

The Spring Gala includes a fun silent auction and paddle raise portion to help benefit scholarships for Alexandria City High School students with limited access to resources. Even if you cannot attend this year’s gala, you may still browse and bid the catalog beginning in April.

The Alexandria Toyota Car Raffle

Through Alexandria Toyota’s generous donation of a car, a single ticket purchaser has 1 in 750 chances to win a brand new Toyota or a $25,000 cash prize. Car raffle tickets are not tax deductible and are sold, generally, between January and the April gala drawing. Winner need not be present at the Gala & Auction celebration to win. See rules here.