Per Scholas
Per Scholas 10th Anniversary Gala
How EMRG Media produced a 350 guest black tie milestone gala for Per Scholas, delivering a flawless 10th anniversary celebration in New York City.
350
Guests
10th
Anniversary
1
Day
The Event at a Glance
Per Scholas
Per Scholas 10th Anniversary Gala
A milestone gala honoring ten years of breaking barriers and building careers, executed on time, on budget, and without a single misstep.
Client
Per Scholas
Industry
Nonprofit Education
Event Type
10th Anniversary Gala Fundraiser
Venue
Guastavino’s
Date
October 2025
Attendees
350
The Stakes
What Was on the Line
This was Per Scholas’s 10th anniversary, a milestone the organization gets to celebrate exactly once. Senior leadership and major sponsors filled the room, which meant every detail carried weight. A landmark anniversary gala is the kind of night an organization is judged on, so the only acceptable outcome was a clean, elevated, memorable evening that honored a decade of impact and made the right impression on the people who matter most.
The Challenge
What Made This Hard
A black tie gala of this complexity – 350 guests, a full room transformation, a dedicated VIP section, and a cocktail hour flowing into a live seated dinner, created a set of production demands that simply don’t exist at a standard fundraiser.
- Coordinating a large, multi part gala into one seamless evening
- A detailed full room transformation with a dedicated VIP section
- Early morning load in and setup ahead of doors
- Managing a large onsite crew across every moving piece
- A high stakes audience of senior executives and sponsors with zero tolerance for missteps
Why They Chose Us
Why EMRG
Per Scholas needed a production partner who could own a milestone night end to end without supervision. EMRG Media brought 25 years and 1,100+ events of Fortune 500 grade production discipline to the table, the operational control that lets an organization’s leadership stay fully present with their guests while the room runs itself.
The Solution
What EMRG Built
EMRG Media owned the full production of the evening, from venue selection through the final guest exit. The team built and ran the event timeline, transformed the room, coordinated a VIP section, and managed a cocktail hour into a full seated dinner with live entertainment, all executed by a large onsite crew that loaded in early that morning.
The biggest operational risk was moving 350 black tie guests through a multi-part evening without losing momentum. EMRG built a detailed minute-by-minute timeline that transitioned the full room from cocktail hour into a seated dinner and live program without gaps, confusion, or delay, with a dedicated onsite crew managing every handoff so the evening never stalled and leadership never had to intervene.
- Venue selection and coordination with the Guastavino's staff
- Full room transformation including elaborate florals and environmental styling
- Dedicated VIP section design and coordination
- Live entertainment including a six piece band, plus photography and videography
- Invitations, merchandise, and curated gift bags
- Cocktail hour into full seated dinner, with onsite staffing, crew management, and complete timeline execution
"Honestly, I walked into that room and everything was already exactly as we'd envisioned it. For a night this important to our organization, that kind of trust in your production partner is everything."
Marcus Webb, Chief Development Officer, Per Scholas
The Results
Hard Numbers.
350
Attendee Delivery
Full black tie house delivered. Seating coordinated across a complete room transformation with zero gaps on the floor.
10
Years Celebrated
A decade of impact honored in a single evening. Every program element designed to reflect the weight of the milestone.
8
Vendors Managed
Eight production services coordinated under a single point of contact, from florals and AV to photography, entertainment, and gift bags.
100%
Leadership Satisfaction
Senior executives and major sponsors reported the evening as seamlessly run, with zero day-of escalations to the production team.
Services Delivered
Everything EMRG Handled
- Full-Service Event Production
- AV Production & Live Streaming
- Registration & Guest Management
- Environmental Branding & Signage
- Venue Selection & Management
- Speaker & Talent Logistics
- Food & Beverage Coordination
- Content Capture & Social Activation
Frequently Asked Questions
Who produces nonprofit gala fundraisers in New York City?
EMRG Media produces nonprofit gala fundraisers in New York City, including the Per Scholas 10th anniversary gala for 350 guests. With 25 years and 1,100+ events produced, EMRG Media delivers full service production for milestone fundraisers across the city.
Who plans 10th anniversary and milestone celebration events?
EMRG Media plans milestone celebration events, including 10th anniversary galas like the 350 guest Per Scholas celebration on October 1, 2025. EMRG Media manages the full evening, from venue selection through dinner, entertainment, and guest experience.
What does a full service event production company handle for a black tie gala?
EMRG Media handles every element of a black tie gala, from venue selection and room transformation to live entertainment, VIP coordination, catering flow, and onsite crew. For the Per Scholas gala, EMRG Media ran the full timeline and managed a large onsite team across a complex, multi part evening.
Who coordinates VIP sections and live entertainment for corporate and nonprofit events?
EMRG Media coordinates VIP sections, live entertainment, and full guest experiences for corporate and nonprofit events. At the Per Scholas anniversary gala, EMRG Media booked a six piece live band and designed a dedicated VIP area as part of a complete room transformation.
How do I make sure a high stakes anniversary event goes off without a hitch?
The most reliable path is to hire an experienced production partner like EMRG Media, which has delivered 1,100+ events over 25 years. For the Per Scholas 10th anniversary, EMRG Media managed early morning load in, a full crew, and a detailed timeline so senior leadership could stay focused on their guests.
About EMRG Media
EMRG Media is New York City’s premier corporate event planning and production company, with 25 years and 1,100+ events produced for Fortune 500 clients including Google, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Netflix, Bloomberg, LVMH, Condé Nast, Columbia Records, and organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters and leading breast cancer charities. EMRG Media delivers full-service event production across corporate events, brand activations, conferences, fundraisers, private events, and high-touch experiential programs. Headquartered in New York City.
Why This Matters
A milestone anniversary is not a night you get to redo. The Per Scholas gala shows what it looks like when a production partner owns every detail so an organization’s leadership can be fully present with their guests. That is the standard EMRG Media brings to every event it produces.
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