QPS Foundation honoring Boland, Stewart at 11th annual Night to Dream Big on Nov. 3 at Ambiance

QUINCY — The Quincy Public Schools Foundation’s 11th annual Night to Dream Big gala will be held from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at the Ambiance. 

A Night to Dream Big is the largest fundraising event in the foundation’s annual campaign, which was launched Aug. 1, and runs through Jan. 30, 2024, with a fundraising goal of $250,000. This year’s Dream Big Campaign is being chaired by QHS alumni Tim Koontz, Class of 1986, and Wendy Koontz, Class of 1987.

The Night to Dream Big Gala offers a cocktail hour, dinner, remarks by honorees, live and silent auctions and musical entertainment by the local band Gypsy Tango Foxtrot. An ATV, sponsored by Smith Brothers, will be raffled off.

Three people will be recognized during the event.

The Dream Big Award will be given to Ann Boland, a long-time Night to Dream Big committee member. The award is presented to a small, distinguished group of people who have shown an outstanding level of support for the Quincy Public Schools. Boland has been integral in assisting with the planning and development of Night to Dream Big since its inception and is active in many groups in the community.

The Distinguished Alumni Award will be given to James B. Stewart, Class of 1969. Stewart is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, attorney and author. He is a columnist for the New York Times, contributor to The New Yorker, a regular guest on nationally syndicated news programs and the editor at large for SmartMoney Magazine. Stewart also has published several books, including “Den of Thieves,” “Disney War” and “Blind Eye: The Terrifying Story of a Doctor Who Got Away with Murder,” an expose on serial killer Michael Swango who had ties to Quincy.

The Dream Big Staff Choice Award will be given to a teacher or staff member from the Quincy Public Schools District, nominated by their peers and voted on by the community. The Dream Big Staff Choice Award winner will be announced at the gala. Voting for the Dream Big Staff Choice award opened Sunday, Oct. 1.

Tickets for the event are on sale now. Early bird prices for tickets are $70/individual or $500/table of eight. After Oct. 13, ticket prices increase to $80/individual and $550/table of eight. Tickets can be bought online at qpsfoundation.org/ntdb or by calling 217-228-7112.

Raffle tickets for the CFMOTO CForce 500 ATV, which is appropriately Blue Devil Blue, are selling for $20 a ticket or 10 tickets for $100. You do not have to be present to win. Tickets can be bought at qpsfoundation.org/ntdb.

All proceeds raised benefit the Quincy Public Schools Foundation. In the last fiscal year alone, endowment dividends and board-designated funds provided more than $330,000 in support for the QPS district through the QPSF grant program to meet teacher and districts requests for technology, curriculum, training and other program needs.

Gifts to the Dream Big campaign should be made to QPS Foundation’s office at Quincy High School, postal mail or the foundation’s web site, www.qpsfoundation.org. Mobile device users can donate by texting “QPSF” to number 44-321. People interested in endowment giving should contact the foundation office at 217-228-7112 for more information.

The Quincy Public Schools Foundation thanks its sponsors, including major sponsors Dale Koontz Builder, O’Connor Financial, Refreshment Services Pepsi, WGEM, Knapheide and HyVee.