By Emily Williams-Robertshaw
During the pandemic, organizations such as Mitchell’s Place didn’t get a break.
According to Mitchell’s Place co-founder Nancy Meisler, the facility was closed for about a three-week period at the beginning of the pandemic to adapt to health and safety measures. It then picked back up and continued providing its essential programming and services to the autism spectrum community.
While Mitchell’s Place continued providing services, it continued generating expenses.
One of the many positive things that will happen as the pandemic nears an end is the return of fundraising events that generate much-needed funds to supplement grant money and donations.
During April, Mitchell’s Place will host two of its annual fundraising events – the Funky Fish Fry, co-hosted by the junior boards of Mitchell’s Place and the Autism Society of Alabama, and A Night at the Oscars, the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.
Funky Fish Fry
This year marks the 11th year of the fundraiser, to be held April 10 at Avondale Brewing Company.
Autism Society of Alabama Junior Board President Olivia Gaston has worked with individuals with autism spectrum disorder for a decade through her career as a behavior analyst at Hoover City Schools. In her three years serving on the board, she has seen firsthand the impact ASA services have on students and families.
“I feel completely honored and blessed to be a part of the autism community, and I am full invested in making these individuals’ worlds as joyful as they make mine,” Gaston said.
When Mitchell’s Place Junior Board President Doug Corey first moved back to his hometown of Birmingham, he was looking for a way to give back to the community. A couple of his friends who were involved with the organization brought him on board.
“The thing that keeps me so involved is seeing how the incredible staff at Mitchell’s Place has been able to help more than 2,000 families over the last 16 years,” Corey said.
With likeminded missions to provide support services to the autism community, it was only natural that ASA and Mitchell’s Place find ways to join forces for fundraising.
“Combining forces and sourcing ideas between both organizations allows us a better chance to come up with strategies that will allow the Funky Fish Fry to be a great success each and every year and hopefully double the funds to benefit both (organizations),” Corey said.
Gaston and Corey said COVID safety is at the forefront of their minds. The event will follow not only official safety recommendations, but also the regulations put in place by Avondale Brewing Company.
That being said, there will be plenty of family-friendly fun to be had. Catfish will be served by Ezell’s Catfish, and tickets include one beer for adults over the age of 21.
Gaston said she could not be more excited about the lineup of live musical performances, featuring The Drennen Brothers, Automatic Slim Blues Band and Livewire.
“I, for one, have not seen a live concert in over a year, and I am getting excited just thinking about seeing an actual band play,” Gaston said.
Those who do not wish to attend the in-person event still can get their catfish fix, as there will be curbside pickup.
For more information and updates, visit funkyfishfry.com.
A Night at the Oscars
Mitchell’s Place will host its 15th annual A Night at the Oscars fundraiser April 24.
Having a night to gather and see firsthand the support for Mitchell’s Place is near and dear to the hearts of co-founders Nancy and Allen Meisler.
“It’s great to see the community’s outpouring of support,” she said. “We believe it gives us a really good stage to show what we do and the difference that we make in these children’s lives.”
The first gala was hosted in 2006, conceptualized by the Meislers.
“It became apparent that we needed to raise more funds outside of what we were receiving through grants and general donations,” Meisler said.
The planning process for the first Night at the Oscars was a whirlwind. Meisler noted that they officially decided on the concept for the event in December and had the entire event planned by February.
About 300 people arrived at the event on the night of the Academy Awards dressed in black tie attire and watched the televised show at the Alabama Theatre.
“My husband had the idea that we would bring in an Oscar winner,” she said. “Most Oscar winners who are still living attend the awards.”
While Meisler had doubts that it could be done, on the date of the event, Shirley Jones was in attendance.
Jones won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role in the 1960 film “Elmer Gantry,” but she may be best known as Shirley Partridge, the widowed mother of five children in the musical comedy series “The Partridge Family.”
Over the years, the event has grown into one of the premiere galas in the area. Meisler notes that fundraising efforts quickly grew from an approximate $25,000 to $125,000 from year one to two.
The fundraiser was held at Birmingham Country Club for many years before it graduated to a larger space at The Club. Last year’s event was hosted at the Theodore the night before the Academy Awards and guests were sent home with swag bags.
“The theme of last year’s bags was an Academy Awards-viewing kit,” Meisler said. “So, we had popcorn, socks and other cute things to watch the Oscars with.”
The 2021 event will return to the Theodore, beginning at 6 p.m. It also will be scaled back to adhere to health and safety mandates.
For those who wish to celebrate at home, festivities will include virtual auctions, party-at-home packages, tickets for meals from Hasting’s Catering and a livestream of the program and live auction.
For more information, visit mitchells-place.com.
