SPEAK UP HATTIESBURG ALUMNI GALA

Speak Up Hattiesburg, a community-built initiative to endow Theatre and Debate at Hattiesburg High School, announces a second signature event.  The Hattiesburg Arts Council will partner with Speak Up Hattiesburg to host a red carpet benefit for HHS on April 2 at The Hattiesburg Cultural Center, located at 723 Main Street in Hattiesburg.

The 7-9 pm black tie optional gala will feature Hattiesburg High School’s String Orchestra, Hattiesburg High School Theatre alumni and celebrity performers, combining for an evening of entertainment. 

In-kind sponsors for the event include Alum Stuart Gates/Vicki’s On Walnut, Hattiesburg Coca-Cola,  Alum Jamey Farris and Copy Cats Printing. Emcee duties for the evening will be shared by Showcase Director and Alum Miles Doleac and Miss Leaf River Valley and arts advocate Ivey Swan. 

According to Speak Up officials, complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and great entertainment come with the $25 per person ticket.  Performing cast will be announced next week.
Businesses who would like to advertise in the Gala playbill may follow these levels of giving for the event:

$5000 Tiger Sponsors (Naming rights for gala, outside cover ad in playbill, 50 gala tickets and billing on gala posters)
$2500 Gold Sponsors (Inside front or back cover of playbill, 25 gala tickets and poster billing)
$1000 Purple Sponsors (Ad in playbill, 10 gala tickets, poster billing)
$500 Golden Paw Sponsors (ad in playbill, 5 gala tickets, poster billing)
$100 Ad sponsors (Standard ad in gala playbill).

Checks may be mailed to Speak Up Hattiesburg at P.O. box 15991, Hattiesburg, MS  39404-5991.  All funds for Speak Up Hattiesburg are administered through the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization.  Write Speak Up on the memo line.

Speak Up Vice-Chair Michael Shemper adds, “We are asking every alumnus of the department to contribute a minimum of $100 toward the endowment effort.  Our goal is to get this nationally ranked debate team back on the road and theatre productions back in the cue.” 

Current team member Zharia Hubbard weighs in.  “We are so grateful for the continuing efforts of the alumni of Hattiesburg High School Debate and Theatre.  When all else fails, family always comes to the rescue!”

“Each of us remembers a part of the educational foundation that gave us wings and supported us as we prepared for life,” states Southern Bone and Joint physician Dr. Robert Dews who was a varsity debater at HHS.  “The next generation of world leaders needs our help.”

Joining Dews as honorary chairs for the capital campaign to date are Parent and Student Alumni:   Larry Doleac, Dr. Joe Paul, Abb Payne, Rob Tatum, Vrita Delaine, Carey Varnado and Steve Willis.
Tickets to the April 2 gala can be purchased from former Booster Club parents or by contacting campaign Chair Michael Marks at 601-520-2666. Alumni interested in performing on the arts gala program should contact Marks as well. For more information on Speak Up Hattiesburg activities, go online to SpeakUpHattiesburg.com.