Get involved
Many hands make the mountain
The gala is built entirely by parent volunteers. Whether you have an afternoon or a season to give, there is a place for you on the team.
Ways to help
Join the crew
All sign-ups open in SignUpGenius. Questions? Reach our volunteer chair at: gala2026@gonzagagala.org.
Peak Basket Crew Member
Bring your eagle-eyed attention to detail while assembling donated items into beautiful gift baskets.
Décor Patrol
Join our decor patrol, crafting and curating gala decorations across multiple mountain workshop sessions!
Summit Setup Squad
Deploy with our set design team, constructing and staging the gala's mountain-night scene before guests arrive!
Open trails
New trails open as the season unfolds. Check back often.
- Invitation Stuffing, Wednesday, October 28Sign up ↗
- Decorations Workshop, October 31Sign up ↗
- Decorations Workshop and Tree Fluffing, November 7Sign up ↗
- Basket Assembly Party, November 14Sign up ↗
- Decorations Workshop, November 22Sign up ↗
- Basket Selection and Creation, by December 1Please reserve your basket by December 1 and deliver your finished basket to campus on the morning of December 5.Sign up ↗
Volunteer calendar
The season at a glance
Three ways to climb
Choose your trail
Day Hiker: One shift on gala night, at check-in or coat check.
Weekend Warrior: Join our weekend decorating workshops, or help with Friday set-up as we turn the gym into a lodge in eight hours.
Expedition: Join the procurement team and spend the season gathering items for the auction.
Volunteer spotlight
The people behind the peak
New Dates Just Dropped: Don’t Miss the Fun Behind the Gala
Some of the best gala memories happen long before Dec. 5, over coffee, garland and a whole lot of laughing. Drop in for whatever fits your schedule. No experience needed, just bring yourself, and maybe a friend.
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New dates include:
- Wednesday, Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m. Stuffing invitations
- Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m.–noon (Get your workday in before trick-or-treating)
- Sunday, Nov. 1, time TBD
- Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m.–noon Unloading and fluffing trees and garland
- Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m.–noon Assembling baskets
- Sunday, Nov. 22, 1:30–4:30 p.m. Decorating workshop, plus the last day to drop off decoration donations
Have decorations to donate? Please bring them by Sunday, Nov. 22. That’s our final drop-off day, and we’ll use them at the decorating workshop that afternoon. Thank you for making the magic happen!
The mountain is missing a few essentials.
We're building a Christmas chalet worthy of the season, but we need help filling the slopes. Have a tree collecting dust in the basement? A string of lights no longer needed? A pair of skis ready for one last run?
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We're seeking:
- Artificial Christmas trees
- Skis, Snowshoes, & Snowboards
- White twinkle lights
- Sparkling holiday décor
Just lending? Perfect. We’ll tag everything with your family’s name and return it after the gala.
Not a skier, but know people? We need scouts too: Marketplace hunters, listserv posters, and anyone with a cousin who owns a tree farm (we’re serious about that last one).
How to help: Email gala2026@gonzagagala.org, and a dad with a truck will come to you. Please send everything by November 22.
🎄🦅 Help us bring Christmas to the Peak.
Decorations and Diaper Drive THIS Saturday!
This Saturday, we’re bringing the mountain magic to life for the Gala, and spreading a little to our neighbors too. Come decorate with us, and bring a pack of diapers for the DC Diaper Bank!
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Every great mountain needs a few trail-builders, and this Saturday, that’s us.
From 9 a.m. to noon in Forte Hall on the 4th floor, we’re rolling up our sleeves to create the decorations that will turn the Gala into Eagles Peak. No artistic talent required. If you can hold a glue gun, fluff a snowy branch, or hand someone the scissors at exactly the right moment, we need you. Come for an hour or stay the whole morning. There will be good company, plenty of laughs, and very likely some glitter that follows you home.
While we’re making magic for one evening in December, we want to make a little for families right here in DC, too. We’re asking everyone who comes to bring a pack of diapers for the DC Diaper Bank, which gets them to local families who need them. Diapers are one of those everyday essentials that add up fast, and a single pack can make a real difference for a family stretching to make ends meet. All sizes are welcome, and the larger ones are always in especially high demand.
So grab a friend, grab a pack of diapers, and meet us at the top of the stairs. The climb to the Peak starts here.
A special note
As we look forward to this year’s Gala, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Gonzaga Mothers Club and our entire community...
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… for their unwavering support and remarkable generosity. The Gala is more than a magnificent evening to celebrate the holiday season—it is an investment in the young men of Eye Street. Thank you for joining us, supporting our mission, and making a lasting difference."
Can't give time?
Give an item, or give directly.
Vacation homes, tickets, experiences, and gift baskets are the heart of the auction. A direct gift goes straight to financial aid.
How do I volunteer?
With gratitude to our 2026 sponsors