2024 ACS Gala – The Future is Now!
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2024 ACS Gala – The Future is Now!
On March 2, 2024 at the St. Regis Saadiyat, our ACS Community of parents, faculty, dignitaries and friends came together as one community in a stunning setting for the 2024 ACS Gala, bound by our collective belief in the power of education to shape a brighter tomorrow. Master of Ceremonies Dr. Victor Guthrie opened the evening by welcoming special VIP guests and dignitaries, including His Excellency Mohamed Al Nahayan; US Ambassador to the UAE Martina Strong; and Her Excellency Dr. Rabaa Alsumaiti, MOE Assistant Undersecretary, along with ambassadors from 8 other countries. This year’s gala was a moment to pause and reflect on our accomplishments – the opening of a new campus - designed with the promise of endless possibilities to support the future of education.
Thanks to the generous support of invited guests and our 2024 sponsors, Nadine & Nasser Al Nowais, Rotana, Endless, Ethara, Serena Carnevale and Luca Molinari, Exxon and others, we were able to raise nearly AED 1 million for ACS in one evening! Their commitment to supporting excellence in education and their belief in our mission significantly contributed to the Gala's overwhelming success. These funds will play a crucial role in helping us deliver the very best education for our students and will allow us to deepen our commitment in 4 strategic core areas:
- Personalizing Learning
- Investing in Our Educators
- Innovating Education for the Next Generation
- Advancing Arabic Teaching & Learning
The first half of the program featured remarks by gala co chairs, Serena Carnevale & Caroline Heming followed by the Chair of our board, Matt Ayoub and ended with a riveting performance by ACS vocalist Sofia Assecondi. Opening the second half, the incredible voices of the community musical theater group lead by Martha Miller, Theater faculty, previewed their upcoming production, Songs for a New World coming soon to our brand new theater. The evening ended with the magic of the Goldsingers, their second appearance at the ACS gala, whose electrifying make-you-want-to-dance performance was another highlight of the evening.
Each year, ACS presents an award to an individual(s) who embodies the ACS Core Values: Curiosity, Courage, Compassion and Integrity. The 2024 ACS Community Leadership award was accepted by Matt Dalio, on behalf of the entire Dalio Family, for their unwavering commitment to the digital empowerment of the next generation and for their transformational support of ACS.
As a nonprofit school, our annual gala, has a tremendous and positive impact on our students. This event enables us to take our school to the next level, beyond what tuition alone can support. By investing in the excellence of our teachers and our programs, we are ensuring ACS continues to deliver the very best education for our students to thrive in a world yet to be imagined. The Future is now…for our students, for education and for ACS.
The 2024 gala theme “The Future is Now” illuminated how ACS is committed to equipping students - the leaders of tomorrow - with the tools and values to thrive as compassionate global citizens who will leave a positive mark on the world.
