We are delighted to announce that Donna Mavromates of Hingham will serve as co-chair of the 20th Annual Feed the Hungry Gala. Mavromates joins Ally Donnelly of Hingham, co-chair since 2012, in leading our annual drive to raise money for Interfaith’s hunger, mental health and emergency assistance programs.
A fixture of the South Shore business community, Mavromates spent several years as marketing director and Vice President of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce. She currently owns MavroCreative in Hingham, a full-service graphic and web design agency, which also donates their services to Interfaith. Her experience working with small business owners and entrepreneurs at the Chamber drives her passion for providing services for those groups. “I love to help nurture and give small businesses the support they need,” Mavromates said.
A mother of two college-age twin girls, Mavromates was drawn to Interfaith’s mission because of the focus on families. “I became aware of how much a need there is on the South Shore,” Mavromates said. “There are families that don’t have food on the table. Most importantly, there are kids that don’t have food on the table. When I learned that I started to understand the depth of the problem.”
She shared a memory of 2015’s Feed the Hungry gala where a former Interfaith client spoke to the audience. The speaker, a Marine, told a harrowing tale of domestic abuse, unexpected need and recovery. Mavromates and her husband Stan, also a Marine, solidly connected with her message. The realization that hunger and need could affect anyone drew her in more. “It can be anyone,” she said. “People fall on difficult times with no fault of their own.”
After serving on the board of directors at Interfaith Social Services for several years, Mavromates joined the gala committee in 2014.
This year’s Feed the Hungry Gala will be held December 8, at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy. The event celebrates two milestones in Interfaith’s history – the 70th anniversary of the organization and the 20th anniversary of the fundraising gala. “Being able to recognize the impact that 70 years’ worth of services have done for this community is huge,” Mavromates said. “It deserves to be acknowledged in a pretty big way.”
Gala attendees will be treated to live music, games, door prizes and entertainment. Chefs from top South Shore-area restaurants will provide tastings and local wine and spirits distributors will showcase beverages. Guests have the chance to bid on silent and live auction items and most importantly, hear about Interfaith’s critical mission to feed, clothe and comfort more than 20,000 hungry local residents each year.
Sponsorship opportunities for the 2017 Gala are still available. Get your tickets now! “The event has sold out for the past three years in a row,” said Mavromates. “I suggest that everyone get their tickets soon.” Get all the details at FeedHungryGala.org.