Round Top Family Library Wrangler’s Gala Exceeds Fundraising Projections

The annual Round Top Family Library Wrangler’s Gala was a night to remember. Set at the beautiful Windy Knoll Ranch in Round Top, over 220 guests and volunteers came together to raise money for “our little yellow rose of Texas, the Round Top Family Library.” The evening’s theme was the yellow rose. Guests arrived at 5:30 p.m. and mingled during the cocktail hour, soothed by the music of Nathan Hinojosa and Spicy Loops. During the social hour, guests were able to view the offerings in the Live Auction and to start their bidding for the Silent Auction items. In addition, there were fun opportunities available to enable attendees to support the library including a Whiskey and Wine Wall, Raffles for a Golf Cart and 3 Guns, and Adopt A Book.

Once guests took their seats, Craig Moreau, recently hired Executive Director of RTFL, took the stage as master of ceremony and with the help of the auctioneer, dinner service was initiated by a lively first live auction item that included a beautiful tapestry creation by Mary Lou Marks and the table that won this first auction item enjoyed being served first for dinner. Additionally, the first ticket in the 3 Gun Raffle was pulled and all kinds of buzz erupted when locals Rob Rosenbaum and wife Linda O’Neal won the Mossberg Maverick Arms 12 gauge shotgun.Adelicious, gourmet meal was catered by Susan Kuehler and Mike Mc-Cathern of Celebrations Catering out of La Grange.

Once dinner was over, Lance Swigert of S3 One Goal Auction energized the crowd in an exciting Live Auction and wow, did the supporters turn it up a notch. There were 10 live auction items with a record-breaking bid for the vacation home in San Miguel de Allende, donated by locals Melissa Roberts and Mark Eversole, and purchased by Joan and Jerry Herring of Fayetteville’s Red and White Gallery.

At one point, the bidding was suspended so that a personal testimony could be shared by Emily Leitko Seimsglusz, who started at 8 years old as one of the first patrons of the library and is now a member of the RTFL Board of Directors. She shared how the library helped shape her young life and that she is seeing it come full circle now as a place of community in which she can raise her own children. Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in the house. Other stand-outs from the evening included a first time Whiskey and Wine Wall, which sold out before dinner could start. It didn’t hurt that the wall was filled with dozens of bottles of highly sought after California cabs and rare French wines, with certain bottles valued up to $450, generously donated by Friends of the Library, Carmine residents Bob and Lisa Van Hoecke, and Round Top restauranteurs JB and Jamie Royer.

At the time of press, results from the night’s fundraising are still being finalized, but RTFL is thrilled to report that the evening was a phenomenal success, exceeding projections by at least 20%. The net proceeds from the gala contribute the majority share of RTFL’s annual operating expenses.