Grace Cathedral
Article | March 2, 2017
Carnivale Reaches New Heights
Blog|Grace
On Tuesday, February 28, Grace Cathedral held its seventh annual Carnivale, a fundraising gala that supports the cathedral’s mission to foster compassion, inclusivity, creativity and learning.
It was Mardi Gras, and three hundred convivial, generous “friends of Grace” let the good times roll as we raised $350,000 for cathedral programs and initiatives. Funds raised at Carnivale support our early education program (The Community Preschool); Bayview Mission, which provides much needed services, food, and supplies to residents of the Hunters Point/Bayview neighborhoods; our renowned Choir of Men and Boys; the dozens of delightful and mind-expanding cultural events that the cathedral presents each year, almost all for free; hundreds of beautiful worship services that welcome everyone regardless of creed and attract thousands of visitors from all over the world; a yoga class that is a beloved weekly encounter for hundreds of people from across the city; and more.
And funds were not the only thing raised at this year’s Carnivale. As guests gasped, vertical dance pioneers BANDALOOP soared above their heads with stunning choreography.
Cathedral dean Malcolm Clemens Young and his wife Heidi Ho offered equally engaging albeit earth-bound entertainment. They drew on Heidi’s Native Hawaiian roots, as Malcolm played the ukulele and sang and she danced.
At the live auction and “Fund-A-Need,” celebrity auctioneer Liam Mayclem put the fun in fund-raising. “Fund-A-Need” raises money for a specific cathedral dream-project each year, funding in past years improvements in the cathedral’s acoustics, environmental impact and kitchen. This year, it will support “Connected Cathedral,” the initiative to amplify core cathedral programs into the community, the region and beyond and to create a digitally-integrated visitor experience.
The cathedral selects an annual theme. 2017 is the Year of the Gift and the “Connected Cathedral” initiative will strengthen the cathedral’s capacity to be a gift to the entire world.
2016 was the Year of Home. Every year we offer a residency to an artist or artists who creates work that illuminates the cathedral’s annual theme. The stunning light art installation Jacob’s Dream: A Luminous Path by our 2016 Artists in Residence – Benjamin Bergery and Jim Campbell—further heightened the beautiful atmosphere at this year’s Carnivale – and Benjamin was among the guests.
Enjoy a slideshow from the gala.