This private school is breaking ground on a brand new gymnasium, football field, baseball field and gym facility. It was time to get the parents, alumni, donors, and faculty on board! The school wanted donors to feel appreciated and student families to feel excited. There were a few challenges to work through to accomplish good flow and great guest experience.

• With almost 400 guests, flow was super important. We decided to do all tray passed bites to keep food moving throughout the space, control how fast the items were being consumed, and to ensure everyone in the room got to enjoy some food items.
• Similar to any donor event, there is a focused on making donors feel appreciated without overspending on the celebration. Ultimately, their donation is going to the school and project, not just a party to celebrate. Finding this balance can be hard, but by getting the kids involved and creating a shorter reception after, guests left feeling fulfilled (and full!).
• There was no kitchen on site, so we needed to build a full functioning kitchen in a classroom. This involved covering the flooring, clearing out desks, and ensuring we are able to warm and cook safely in the building.

To accomplish these things, we chose a menu to keep guests moving throughout the space, engaged in construction diagrams, and excited about their new facilities. This project is representing a new sports program and facilities for the school, so we naturally had to go with a sports themed menu!

Sports Day Menu:

mac and cheese bites - with truffle dipping sauce

savory smokey bbq gourmet popcorn - served in mini popcorn boxes

sliding into home! - smoked bbq chicken slider with housemade bbq sauce, cheddar cheese, tangy pickle

vegetable empanadas - served with a chipotle aioli

ballpark pretzel bites - creamy fondue in mini pretzel boule bites, smoked pepper relish

mini loaded nacho bite - beef filling with ooey gooey cheese, sour cream, and salsa

chef's choice dessert assortment - mini blondie bar, mini chocolate cupcake, and mini apple crumble pies