Each year the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Holiday Gala. Proceeds from the event benefit the Laguna Madre Education Foundation and the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce. The Foundation is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization making contributions tax deductible. In 1996, the Laguna Madre Education Foundation was formed in order to help local students attain post-secondary education, increasing the educational, and therefore socio-economic, levels of our community. The following is a brief history of the scholarship program:

YEAR	# OF RECIPIENTS	TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED
1996	1	$1,000
1997	2	$1,500
1998	4	$4,000
1999	10	$7,000
2000	10	$8,750
2001	13	$12,500
2002	16	$15,000
2003	17	$17,000
2004	20	$19,000
2005	16	$16,000
2006	18	$19,000
2007	18	$18,000
2008	18	$18,000

You are invited to officially begin the holiday season with your friends and business associates at this year’s Holiday Gala on December 4, 2009, 7:00 p.m. at the beautiful Isla Grand Beach Resort. This annual event features both a silent and live auction full of wonderful items just in time for the upcoming holiday season. The “Frontera Jazz Quartet” will be playing a variety of music, and attendees will enjoy a wonderful buffet specially selected by Isla Grand Beach Resort owner, Bill Donahue. Cocktails, dinner, and the silent and live actions will take place in the Grand Ball Room. A photographer will be on hand to take photographs of you and your guests.

Sponsorships are available for $600, which gives you reserved seating for 10 people or individual tickets are available at $60.00 per person. For more information about sponsorship or to purchase tickets please contact the SPI Chamber at 956.761.4412 or at info@spichamber.com

Every dollar raised is another step toward changing a child's future.

SPONSORS

American Diving/Sea Ranch Dolphin Watch Best Western La Copa Beach Resort Coleman Hall & Heinze E. Pena & Associates, P.C. First National Bank - SPI Jake's Flowers & Gift Baskets LaQuinta Inn & Suites Beach Resort Lynne Tate Real Estate Mike & Jody Hughes Palms Resort & Cafe on the Beach Rick and Gloria Ridolfi Scoggins Construction Co. Shippings Our Specialty (S.O.S.) Sisters Trading Company SPI Convention and Visitors Bureau Thad and D'Netta Moore Town of South Padre Island Troy Giles Realty UTB/TSC Valley International Airport