Special Events Campaigns of the Year: MIND Research Institute, Avow Hospice

By Margaret Battistelli Gardner

Income Generated at Gala: $448,000

Average Gift: $5,600

Cost to Raise a Dollar: $0.04

Our judges, who must all be big kids at heart, really fell for the fun, comic-book feel of the creative for this event. It's got a bright-on-black color palette and superhero graphics, and it's peppered here and there with Batman-esque bursts with "WOW!" written in them. MRI's Peggy Lamberton said that was the idea. The 2011 gala was the first themed gala that MRI had ever attempted, and it was a huge change from what its donors were used to. Namely, it put a whole lot more fun into the annual event and recognized its donors for the superheroes that they are.