Events & Gala
Our Annual Gala is one of the highlights of the giving year at GISNY! This special event combines a wonderful evening of fun and community with the opportunity to support our school’s programs and initiatives.
2026 GISNY Gala, March 21, 2026
Save the Date for what will certainly be an unforgettable evening! Get ready for a night of music, dancing, and great company to raise important funds for GISNY. We won’t give away all the surprises just yet, but we promise an extraordinary celebration you won’t want to miss.
Gala for GISNY 2025: A Roaring Success
On April 5, 2025, the Woman’s Club of White Plains was transformed into a glamorous homage to the Roaring Twenties for the Gala for GISNY 2025. The event, held in support of the Campus of the Future Development Fund, welcomed parents, teachers, and friends of the GISNY community — including distinguished guests like Consul General of Germany Till Knorn, Consul General of Austria Helene Steinhäusl, and Consul Mariella DeCarvalho - to support the school’s exciting new development projects.
The venue, with its many intimate rooms and classic decor, was perfectly in tune with the evening’s 1920s theme. Highlight of the event was the formal fundraising program in the ballroom, which featured opening remarks by GISNY’s new Head of School, Volker Ovelgönne, and Board of Trustees President, Dr. Katja Simons. Hosting the evening with charm and humor were beloved teachers Nils Köhler and Anthony Krause-Zeis, whose spirited energy especially shone during the Live Auction and Paddle Raise, encouraging enthusiastic participation and generous giving.
Thanks to the outstanding support from the community — including bids in the Online Auction, which featured unique Class Art Project Mirrors crafted by our talented lower school students, exciting raffle prizes, and generous cash donations — this year’s Gala raised an incredible total of $115,000 for the Campus of the Future Development Fund.
Following the formal program, guests enjoyed delicious food and drinks, lively music and dancing, and engaging fundraising activities such as Casino Tables, a Beauty Draw and Necklace Raffle, a fun digital Photo stand, and a 360° Photobooth.
Thank you to our Donors
A heartfelt thank you to our generous main sponsors, Zwilling, BMW and Lufthansa, as well as to all donors, guests, and volunteers who helped make the evening such an unforgettable success.
The Gala for GISNY 2025 Team
Gala Co-Chairs: Corinna Cybulska, Isabelle Zemke, Henriette Leske,
Website & Auctria: Bruni Topete
Donations Support: Lisa Kost
Class Art Project: Martina Hess
GISNY Support: Saskia Osbar, Marion Rumpf-Steppat
Impressions from Current Gala
Impressions from Previous Galas
Proudly Presenting our Long-Term Donors
Donor Appreciation Dinner
2025
On June 20, we celebrated our top-level donors for their unwavering support and commitment to GISNY with an elegant dinner at the uniquely charming Speak Easy Restaurant Chef Simon in New York City. The atmosphere was truly exceptional — a blend of elegance, creativity, and charm that made the evening feel both sophisticated and memorable. It was the perfect backdrop for celebrating our donors and the meaningful impact of their generosity.
Thank you!
