412 Gives Back Gala at Fox Chapel Golf Club raises $165,000 for Make-A-Wish

Given that the event sold out within five hours of tickets going on sale, meeting a fundraising goal of $100,000 pretty much was a foregone conclusion.

By the time everything was accounted for, proceeds from the second annual 412 Gives Back Gala totaled $165,000.

The money benefits Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia, which draws support from the Pine-based philanthropic organization 412 Gives Back.

“We are so thrilled that the community is just as passionate about this cause as we are and that we could all come together for a magical night for a greater purpose,” organizing committee member Laura Lawler said. “This means that in only two years since 412 Gives Back was founded, we have raised a quarter-of-a-million dollars for Make-A-Wish, which is pretty cool to say.”

Themed as “A Mad Hatter Affair,” inspired by Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” the Jan. 11 event at Fox Chapel Golf Club represented the latest in a series of fundraisers by the group. The inaugural gala in 2024 generated $90,000.

“Even before the last gala was finished, we already had plans for this one,” said Billie Higgins, 412 Gives Back co-founder. “Everybody was really motivated and excited from last year to be a part of this event.”

Donations of goods and services for auction and raffle, including high-value items from Noah Gabriel & Co. Jewelers and Pittsburgh sports teams, played a big part in pushing the proceeds past the goal. People who were unable to get tickets had the opportunity to bid online.

Higgins mentioned Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward as being particularly helpful.

“He really went above and beyond,” she said. “He took a football to work one day and had 20-some players sign it.”

Greeting guests as they arrived at the gala was Carroll’s Alice, as portrayed spot-on by an actress from Enchanted Experiences, a character-entertainment company owned by North Side resident Caleigh Balbinot.

“We primarily do children’s birthday parties,” she said. “But at events like this, with just adults, it can go over just as well when the theming is right and the audience is receptive, just like we have here tonight.”

The company specializes in princesses and storybook characters, many played by theater majors.

“Depending on the character, we spend hours and hours of preparation with hair, makeup, the dress and everything,” Balbinot said. “So it’s a large feat, for sure.”

Adding to the “Mad Hatter” ambience were extra touches such as sizable chess pieces made of foam board, as constructed and painted by gala organizers, and a “champagne wall,” through which golf club staff members extended glasses of bubbly for guests to enjoy.

Plus plenty of the participants wore chapeaus and fascinators in the spirit of what turned out to be an especially productive evening.

“All of the money that comes in tonight, we’re able to give directly to the Wish families. So it’s that much more of an impact, which people also love knowing,” Higgins said. “They really want to come out and support our event. It’s exciting.”

For details, visit www.412givesback.org.

Harry Funk is a TribLive contributing writer.