a gala with heart

Guests dressed to the nines, a divinely decorated venue, gourmet cuisine, Grecian music, and the chance to catch up with friends — the Greek Fest Charity Gala is back! Diamond Sponsors Saad Healthcare, Saad Realty Partners, and The Malbis Memorial Foundation contributed to the success of this must-attend event. A monument to good taste and a good time, all for an even better cause, the community came together for Mobile’s beloved Penelope House.

By Amber Wielkens; Photos by Layla Lambert

Considered one of Mobile’s tastiest traditions for decades, Greek Fest is a popular (one might say essential) November must-do, but six years ago, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church added a charity gala to kick off the four-day celebration of Greek culture. The brainchild of longtime church members Greg and Jamie Saad, the Greek Fest Charity Gala quickly gained traction and a founding group was formed. Their mission? To serve others in need by raising awareness and supporting local charities through a broad-based community coalition.

“We will be giving [Penelope House] over $115,000. They have struggled like most during the pandemic, but also in ways not considered. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, they’ve been especially stretched to find space for their clients while the need is even greater. It’s our hope this donation will help them with expansion to assist this vulnerable group of people.” Stephanie fondly adds, “It’s been a collaborative effort to bring the gala to life, with everyone bringing their talents forward. First Horizon Commercial Banking Executive Lawrence Ford, Jr., known as Russ is also our current president — we probably won’t ever let him quit! The gala committee is a wonderful, talented, and dedicated group. Russ Ford and Greg Saad are the fundraisers. Ryane and Scott Fulgham have taken over the auction. I’ve somehow become the design person, and Ryane was also the chair this year, picking up all the miscellaneous jobs a chair gets stuck with — she was phenomenal!”

And the dreamy décor? “It centered around a beautiful china pattern with butterflies I found,” says Stephanie. “We’ve tried to make every year a unique experience. Carl Clark at Southern Veranda along with Allen Bailey have been part of the creative team from the beginning. They’ve taken this event to heart and raise the bar each year, building installations in our foyer for photos and as a grand entrance. This year, they created a truly magical garden of trees, greenery, and butterflies.” Did we forget to mention the food? Alec Naman, no stranger to Greek cuisine, showcased his considerable talents. Lollipop lamb chops, artichoke and feta flatbread, and chicken kabob starters, a choice of phyllo-wrapped snapper or a veal chop with moussaka as the main course, and Greek honey puffs (Loukoumades) and, of course, ouzo for dessert. Guests enjoyed live music from the Greek Muses through the cocktail hour, auction, and dinner.

With over $500,000 raised since the first gala, this hardworking and altruistic group and the sponsors who support their efforts are a reflection of Greek culture at its core — they help each other and anyone in need, as Stephanie beautifully explains, “We consider this a Mobile event, not just a Greek community event. We have as many non-Greeks as Greeks every year. We’re working to help those in need and all are welcome.”