Inside the Benefit

Kudos to everyone who helped put on the fabulous Casino de Mayo benefit on May 5. It was an exciting night raising funds for TJA scholarships. Here, this year's benefit maven Jaymie R. shares how it all came together.

What's been the best part about planning the benefit? 
Jaymie: I’ve really enjoyed seeing all of our ideas evolve and take shape. From selecting the venue to designing the décor, it’s been an exciting process. I can’t wait to see the finished product!

What's been the biggest challenge? 
Jaymie: We decided to go with an outdoor venue this year, so inclement weather has been a concern. The layout of the venue’s rooftop doesn’t lend itself to easy tenting options. We’re at the mercy of Mother Nature, but luckily recent weather reports are calling for sunshine.

How do you get all of the silent auction items together?
Jaymie: Each of our members is responsible for one silent auction donation. By reaching out to friends, family, local businesses and big corporations, they solicited tons of amazing items this year. Some of my favorites include a floral arranging class for up to 12 people, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club package, a fun USC-themed basket and three amazing Caribbean vacation packages.

We have a great Fundraising Committee who managed the silent auction process, from collecting the donations down to arranging the baskets, to ensure the entire thing runs smoothly. My sincere thanks goes to Maggie Habib and her team for their help with this!

Who comes up with the theme?
Jaymie: We brainstorm possible themes as a group during one of our fall meetings and then vote for our favorites. We also factor in venue and timing information. This year’s benefit just happened to fall on Cinco de Mayo, so we decided to incorporate the holiday into our overall theme.

Why is the benefit such an important event for TJA?
Jaymie: The benefit is our biggest fundraising event of the year. We focus much of our time and energy throughout the year on the planning and execution of this event. Proceeds from the evening go directly toward scholarships, so it’s important that we raise as much money as possible in order to continue to recognize and reward outstanding USC women. We’ve raised nearly $40,000 in the past five years, and we hope to significantly add to that number with profits from this year’s benefit.