Volunteer Information

The Starlight Gala could not be organized without the generous donation of time and talent from our volunteer corps. We are always in need of additional volunteers.  The following Starlight Gala committees need your energy and enthusiasm to help make this year’s Gala a tremendous success! Whether you have two hours or 20 hours to give, we have a committee that needs your help.  In addition to the opportunities listed below, we will need volunteers to work the night of the event.  Please fill out the form below to let us know where you'd like to help out. 

Underwriting Committee

Chairs:  Robin Milstead (robin13polo@yahoo.com) & Kelly Papinchak (kellymgeorge@live.com) 

There are at least 125,000 reasons to volunteer for the Underwriting Committee - one for every dollar we will raise for the fight against cancer. This committee is responsible for the soliciting and securing of cash to underwrite specific expenses of the gala. Those companies that underwrite will have their logos advertised, so it’s of great benefit to them!  We are in need of volunteers that can help us contact local companies and invite them to underwrite this year’s event. Much of our success depends on working local contacts and relationships, so if you have a rolodex of friends, family or business contacts and you don’t mind asking for a donation, then your home is with the Underwriting Committee.      

In Kind Gift Committee – Silent Auction/Mystery Gift Box/Raffle/Bid Board

Chairs:  Tricia Hawks (tlhawks@yahoo.com) & Gina Weydert (gweydert@gibbs-bruns.com)  

If you are looking to get to know your community, then this is the committee for you.  You will have the opportunity to use your Houston area connections to find donors for the raffle, silent auction, mystery gift boxes and gaming prizes. The silent auction is a key element of the night of fun, and we want your help making it the best auction ever.  You will be responsible for securing donations for items from local companies, restaurants and stores to auction off the night of the event.  This committee is also in charge of Mystery Gift Boxes.  The surprise is that guests don’t know what they are buying until they open it! Responsibilities include: soliciting donations for the boxes, assembling and wrapping the boxes and selling them the night of gala.  Each box sells for $100 and there is at least, if not more than $100 worth of items in the box.  If you are good at asking for things and getting what you ask for, then In-Kind wants YOU! 

Entertainment and Game Committee

Chair:  Luis Partida (lpartida@gmail.com)  

Are you hip to the music scene? Do you enjoy playing games of chance?  If so, this is the perfect committee for you. Responsibilities include scouting and hiring musical entertainment, as well as providing various games during Gala. Join the fun and excitement!  

Donor & Guest Appreciation

Chair:  Kerry Sheppard (kerry@westerntalk.com)  

This committee is responsible for providing donors with imaginative awards and providing donors and guests with goody-bags, t-shirts, etc.  Will be responsible for coordinating with the Underwriting Committee to secure items for the goody bags.  Will design the t-shirts to be given to all guests and will also design and purchase awards for donors.  This committee will also stuff the goody bags prior to the event.  All donors and guests want to feel special and this is a great way to show them that we care about their support! 

Public Relations Committee

Chair:  Michelle Cowart (mcowart@leadershiphouston.org)  

This committee is in need of public relations professionals to provide image and awareness of the event/gala in the public and private sector of the community.  The date, time, theme, location, cause benefiting, and uniqueness should be made known to the community as early as possible.  Communicate with both electronic and print media.  Handle press releases in a timely manner to newspapers and magazines; distribute posters to involved businesses for display, and provide flyers to banks/utilities for enclosure statements.    

Honor & Memorial Committee

Chair:  Catherine Cutlip (c_cutlip@goodwillhouston.org)   

This committee’s goal is to honor and remember our friends and loved ones, who have fought, are still fighting or who have lost their battle to cancer. Donors have the opportunity to purchase a Starlight or Starbright.  Starlights are memorials that honor loved ones on the night of the gala and Starbrights are quarter page ads in the Gala program. Starbrights allow you to create a personalized message to honor your loved ones.   

Site & Decorations Committee

Chairs:  Carla Crowe (carlacrowe@gmail.com) & Traci Clay (traciclay@gmail.com)  

Responsible for connecting with all committees and vendors to coordinate the following:

• Site Planning: create site plan to scale focusing on flow of event and highlighting areas where there are fund-raising opportunities.
• Coordinate and supervise all on-site activities during set-up.
• “After Gala:” provide work force for clean up of the site if required to restore the site to usable form for the owners.
• Meet with the owners/managers of the site to determine any restrictions, fees, logistical constraints, legal and insurance matters.
• Coordinate transportation and logistics
• Determine food and beverage needs for Gala and VIP reception
• Negotiate and finalize contract with caterers and beverage suppliers.
• Work with Underwriting Chair to determine underwriting opportunities. 

Volunteer Recruitment/Social Committee

Chairs:  Traci Clay (traciclay@gmail.com) & Katie Moyer (katiebh03@yahoo.com)  

This committee is responsible for securing all gala volunteers and making sure they stay informed about all happenings.  We are also looking for a few people to help organize some social events as well as community outreach events this year, such as hospital visits or assisting at other local cancer society events. This committee is also responsible for recruiting and overseeing all volunteers on the night of the event. 

Ticket Sales & Registration Committee

Chair:  Christine Bailey (christine.bailey@ajg.com)  & Graham Lowrey (lowreyg19@yahoo.com)

This committee will be responsible for keeping up with ticket sales and getting all registration materials together before the event.  Will work closely with Underwriting, Sponsorship and In-Kind Gifts committees to determine how many tickets donors will receive and getting them added to the list of attendees.  Volunteers will also need to work the registration table at beginning of event.