Gaudiosa in Paris!

Jesuit High School's award-winning gala Gaudiosa: An Evening in Paris was a smashing success Saturday (February 22) at the Hilton Tampa Downtown, raising $1.2 million!

The extraordinary generosity of Jesuit's supporters at the 22nd annual made it the 4th consecutive Gaudiosa to surpass $1 million! As always, all of the proceeds from Gaudiosa go to the school's financial aid program. 

The classic Parisian atmosphere and ambience was created by special events coordinator Mary Rouge and her amazing team of volunteers, as well as Gaudiosa’s generous underwriters, patrons, and sponsors, including the wine sponsor, the 1905 Family of Restaurants (Melanie and Richard Gonzmart ’71). The locational theme for each Gaudiosa is based on the travels of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus – the Jesuits – in the 16th century. On Saturday, guests were transported to romantic Paris!

The evening was filled special moments, two of which featured the renowned Jesuit Trio of Juan Amador ’27, Austin Blewitt ’26, and Carlos Lamoutte ’25, who first performed a lyrically-altered Jesuit rendition of “Be Our Guest” from “Beauty and the Beast,” and later sang a beautiful version of the French classic “La Vie en rose” by Edith Piaf. Click here to view the Jesuit Trio at Gaudiosa.

Later, Jesuit senior Oscar Olivera, who is one of two St. Ignatius Scholars in the Class of 2025, gave a powerful testimonial to his family and his Jesuit experience (click for video), which inspired immediate gifts of $50,000 apiece from Ray Hyer, P ’01 and Renee and Brian Murphy, P ’27!

Hyer and the Murphys were Grand Underwriters for Gaudiosa 2025, contributing a donation of $25,000 each in advance support of the event, and the Murphys also were the Honorary Event Chairs! Additional Grand Underwriters were Brad Lancaster, P ’27, Stacey and Ronald Leal, P ’09, Lauren and Chris Schellman, P ’20, ’24, ’27, and the Jesuit Community of Tampa. Click here to view the Gaudiosa event program, which lists all of the volunteers, underwriters, donors, sponsors, and patrons for Gaudiosa 2025.

"We are so thankful to all of the supporters who give so generously to Gaudiosa and Jesuit High School," said Rouge, who in her three years coordinating Gaudiosa has raised $1 million-plus each year. "Every year at Gaudiosa, so many give so much in support of the school's financial aid program. We are so thankful to all of them and to all of the volunteers, whose tireless efforts make Gaudiosa an annual success for Jesuit."

The phenomenal live auction had the ballroom buzzing and raised $110,500 via items such as an amazing MarineMax boating vacation in the Caribbean; vacations to Paris and North Carolina; golf at Cabot Citrus Farms; an adorable Chocolate French Bulldog puppy, who captured the hearts of the ballroom and was won by Yvette and Craig Urquhart, P ’26; and a surprise auction item from Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, P ’25, ’26.

The biggest live auction attractions were a golf outing at Michael Jordan's ultra exclusive private course, Grove XXIII, which the item's donors, DeLeon and Gary Sheffield, P ’24, ’26, agreed to double the offer, allowing two bidders to win the opportunity. Another double offer that generated high bidding was dinner and dessert at Bern’s Steak House with Jesuit’s incoming president, Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, S.J. Father Giacabazi officially begins at Jesuit this summer, but he was in attendance Saturday for his first Gaudiosa!

The robust silent auction showcased some 300 exceptional items in an electronic bidding format, including spectacular vacations, jewelry, sports-related opportunities, and many uniquely Jesuit items that raised $184,000! Saturday's gorgeous setting was courtesy of the Floral Sponsor, Kennicott Bros. (Shannon Greenhalgh, P ’25) and the Premier Décor Sponsor, HomeFrosting (Karen Post and Eric Vogt, P ’15), and created by Elvia Rivera, P ’14 of Revamp, Décor and Redesign.

As always, Gaudiosa featured a delicious dinner, a great live band, dancing, and the spirit of Jesuit High School. Rouge and her dedicated staff, including longtime volunteers Allison Paglieri, P ’24 and Theresa Wresh, P ’17, ’20 (Auction Chairs), and Lori Tappan, P ’19 (Reservations Chair), worked diligently for months to make Gaudiosa a spectacular event.

The chance drawing for Gas for a Year courtesy of The Capitano Family and Radiant Food Stores was announced to the student body on Friday at Convocation and won by Claudia Knowles, P ’24, ’26. DeLeon Entertainment closed the event with great music that helped fill the dance floor late into the night.

The Tampa Bay Business Journal has recognized Gaudiosa, which is a Latin term for "a joyous feast," as the region's best fundraising gala, honoring Gaudiosa as the "Best Fundraising Event" four times! Over the past 12 years, Gaudiosa has raised more than $10 million for Jesuit's financial aid program. For more than two decades, Gaudiosa has helped to ensure that no qualified boy who wishes to receive a Jesuit education is denied the opportunity for financial reasons.

Click here for a sensational photo gallery with downloadable images from Gaudiosa 2025!