The Mountaineers Annual Gala
SAVE THE DATe
The 2026 adventure with purpose gala
saturday, April 25, 2026
FREMONT STUDIOS, SEATTLE, WA
6pm - 10pm
VIP Reception at 5pm
Cocktail Attire
The 2025 Gala took place on April 26, 2025 and raised $585,000 to support our mission and programs. The evening featured Sasha DiGiulian as our Keynote Speaker and honored Art Wolfe with our Adventure with Purpose Award.
Want to see how much fun it all is? Read our 2025 Gala Recap Blog, check out the event photo galleries or watch the recording of our livestream. It is a great night and one that we hope you can join us for in 2026.
about the gala
The Mountaineers Annual Gala is a unique event. More than just a fundraiser, it's a chance to showcase our Adventure with Purpose mission and celebrate the wide range of activities, programs, and people that our nonprofit positively impacts in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. From 7-10pm, ticketholders enjoy our main program that features the live auction, our Tyrolean Traverse (where guests can watch in amazement as three of our Mountaineers Adventure Program students race across the ceiling of the ballroom), and our speaking program, featuring world-renowned adventurers who headline the event with a keynote address or are honored with our Adventure with Purpose Award.
2026 SPONSORSHIP & Support
SPONSORSHIP: The success of our Annual Gala is thanks to our sponsors. We are currently seeking sponsorships to support the 2026 event. Please contact Rose Steller Burke for details about sponsoring our Gala.
TABLE SALES: Secure your spot at the Gala by purchasing a VIP table ($3K = 10 VIP tickets) or hosting a regular table ($2,250 = 10 tickets). We expect this event WILL SELL OUT, so take advantage of this early opportunity before tickets go on sale in January. Email Jackson Gutierrez for details.
AUCTION DONATION: Year round, we are also soliciting opportunities to partners with brands, businesses, and individuals for giving of in-kind experiences, gear, and items of value to be placed in our live and silent auctions. Please email Hannah Abebe if you would like to donate your time, expertise, a vacation home, gear, or anything else.
ABOUT THE NIGHT
COCKTAIL RECEPTION (5-7PM): The evening kicks off in Studio B of Fremont Studios with our cocktail reception. Our VIP ticketholders are invited to come as early as 5pm to enjoy specialty drinks and passed appetizers plus the opportunity to participate in our VIP Reception activations with our special guests. At 6pm all ticketholders are welcome and the reception continues with drinks, bites and an opportunity to socialize and peruse the 60 live and silent auction packages that are set up in the room. You can pick up a nice bottle at our Wine Toss, take pictures in our photo booth and place your last minute bids on auction items (silent auction closes at 7pm).
DINNER (7PM): After the reception guests are invited into the ballroom to find their table and enjoy the three course dinner provided by Kaspars Catering.
We will do our best to make any dietary requests as indicated in Special Order notes on your ticket purchase. Dinner will be served with a selection of beverages from our beverage sponsors including Tinte Cellars, Georgetown Brewing, Ghostfish Brewing and Seattle Cider. We will also have non alcoholic beverages available.
MAIN PROGRAM (7-10PM): As guests enjoy dinner our program emcees will take the stage and our virtual livestream will begin. The main program includes our Tyrolean Traverse - where three of our MAC students race across the ceiling of the ballroom Tyrolean style - followed by our live auction and our main fundraising engagement of the evening, Raise the Paddle.
The program concludes with our two speaking presentations, the presentation of the Adventure with Purpose Award followed by the Keynote Address.
If you have any questions about the Gala or ways to contribute you can always contact us at development@mountaineers.org or call 206-521-6022.
Want to volunteer at the Gala? Please reach out to Community Events Coordinator Hannah Abebe at hannaha@mountaineers.org.
Gala title artwork by Enjoli Izidor.
2025 Gala photography by Matt Hagen.