GATES MILLS, Ohio — Gilmour Academy hosted its “Party of the Century,” Oct. 5 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of its Tudor House, the iconic building located at the heart of the school’s campus, 34001 Cedar Road.
The Party of the Century was a tented, outdoor event held in Tudor Gardens, behind Tudor House.
The event’s honorary chairs were Nick and Lorie Howley and the Howley family, who donated the funds to provide for the renovation of the exterior of Tudor House. That work was completed this past fall.
Co-chairs were past parents Lorraine and Bill Dodero, current and past parents Kerianne and Graham Hearns, and current parents Corinne (from the Gilmour Class of ‘02) and Nick Salvador.
The party included dinner, cocktails, entertainment by The Bluewater Kings Band, and silent and live auctions.
Auction offerings included a one-week stay at an Isle of Palms vacation home, a weeklong stay at Rancho de los Caballeros in Arizona, tickets to the Skybox at the Waste Management Open, a Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour for four, Taylor Swift tickets, a rosary blessed by Pope Francis, Walt Disney World Park Hopper passes, a South Sea pearl necklace, and more.
Honorary Chair Nick Howley speaks at The Party of the Century.Brian T. Hart
Joe Girvan served as the event auctioneer, while Gilmour alumni Steve Skrovan (‘75) and Wendy Steinhoff Baldikoski (‘88) served as the evening’s emcees.
Skrovan is a producer, writer and director, best known for his work on “Seinfeld,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and “An Unreasonable Man.”
Baldikoski is the vice president of comedy development at ABC. She’s been involved with more than 140 comedy pilots, including the Emmy Award-winning “Abbott Elementary.”
Table sponsorships and event sponsorships ranged from the $50,000 level to the $1,000 level.
A look inside the Party of the Century tent.Gilmour Academy
Top sponsors included Kristen and Kevin Stein, Jim and Kathy Pender, the Corinne L. Dodero Foundation for the Arts & Sciences, The Sam J. Frankino Foundation, J.F.D. Landscaping, The Samuel J. and Connie M. Frankino Charitable Foundation, Kerianne and Graham Hearns, the Heltzel family, The Howley Foundation, Edward Hyland, Jerry Murphy and Molly Dixon, Bryan and Stephanie Panteck, Panzica Construction, Thomas Partners, Zenith Systems, Michael and Jackie Baird, and Jon S. and Brandis Deitelbaum.
Nick Howley made a surprise announcement during the party that the Howley family would match any donations toward the restoration up to $2 million.
All proceeds will support Tudor House so that the building can be utilized for school and alumni events, as well as student programming.
Gilmour junior recognized
On Wednesday (Oct. 9), Gilmour Academy recognized junior Xavier (Javi) Swinarski at Convocation by Gilmour’s Head of School Kathy Kenny for his selection as a 2024 Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Cleveland Youth in Philanthropy Award winner.
Swinarski will be presented with the award by AFP Cleveland at a reception to be held on Nov. 7 at Windows on the River.
The Youth in Philanthropy Award recipients are individuals between 10and 18 years of age who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their community through philanthropy by raising financial support, developing charitable programs, volunteering and/or showing leadership in philanthropy.
Swinarski was recognized for his dedication to his annual “Socktober Sock Drive.” He is currently in the midst of his eighth drive, held each October.
He launched the initiative as a fourth grader after a field trip, during which he learned that socks are the most requested items in homeless shelters. In his initial year, Swinarski collected 500 pairs of socks. For the past eight years, he has continued to organize a sock drive for the homeless, collecting socks across all three divisions at Gilmour, as well as from outside organizations, and donating them to local homeless shelters.
With last year’s drive, he set a new record, collecting 14,362 pairs of socks. This year, his drive runs through Oct. 15 and he has set an ambitious goal of collecting more than 20,000 pairs of socks.
Gilmour junior Javi Swinarski and Gilmour Head of School Kathy Kenny.Gilmour Academy
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