Showtime at the arena: Clay Walker set to play gala

The Mesquite ISD Education Foundation has booked chart-topping country music singer Clay Walker to perform on Feb. 23 at Mesquite Arena, 1818 Rodeo Drive.

"We were looking for someone that would put on an amazing show. Clay Walker is known for doing that," said Randy Lewallyn, foundation executive director. "He is an entertainer with many recognized songs. We really think we have the right fit for our guests."

This is the seventh year the foundation has hosted the concert-fundraiser. Past performers include Robert Earl Keen, Lonestar, Three Dog Night, KC and the Sunshine Band, Martina McBride and Sara Evans.

"This is a great community event. It's a way for the community to come out and support the district," Lewallyn said.

One of the unique things about the gala this year is it will be used to pay tribute to Dr. Ralph H. Poteet, who passed away last year.

"We want to honor him for the contribution he made to the district. The gala is really an event where we have the opportunity to honor him and his family in front of a lot of people," Lewallyn said. "Our hope is to create an endowment in his name as a way to honor him long-term."

Tickets for the concert only are on sale at ticketmaster.com or at the arena's box office, 1818 Rodeo Drive.

Table sponsorships for the event are available at $1,000, $1,250, $1,500, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 and may be purchased from the MISD Education Foundation by calling 972-882-8779 or going to www.mesquitefoundation.org. A table sponsorship includes a pre-concert meal at 6 p.m.

There will also be party suites available for rental. The cost to rent a party suite ranges from $1,250 to $7,500, depending on the size of the party. For information on the suites, visit www.mesquitefoundation.org and download the suite reservation form.

The foundation would like to raise $100,000 or more through the gala.

"We hope to raise a substantial amount of money through this event. All of the money will be used to help support innovative programs for teachers and students in MISD," Lewallyn said.

All of the money raised is dispersed into the school district. The foundation has a mini-grant process that allows teachers to submit proposed programs for funding. The applications for funding are submitted and then entered into a blind screening process, during which the foundation's committee evaluates the programs and determines which ones receive funding.

"We will receive close to 50 applicants in February. We will put them through the grading process and the grants will be awarded in April," Lewallyn said.

To date, the foundation has funded more than 300 programs totaling more than $1.2 million, according to Lewallyn.

The foundation will also hold live and online auctions as part of the event.

"The live auction will be held between the supporting act and Clay Walker's performance," Lewallyn said.

The online auction is scheduled to begin the week of the concert and will conclude the week after the gala. Those interested in participating in the online auction will be able to view items and bid at www.mesquitefoundation.org. In the past the auction has included items such as sports packages, vacation home stays and autographed memorabilia.

"The online auction gives people the flexibility to bid when they have time to do so," Lewallyn said.

The foundation will also be hosting a diamond drawing for the second year. Last year the foundation sold 199 cubic zirconia rings and the one real diamond ring. Participants will purchase a cubic zirconia ring and one random participant will learn that they have won a real diamond ring during the event. Lewallyn hopes to have more cubic zirconia rings available this year.

For information on the foundation and the gala, visit www.mesquitefoundation.org




About Walker

· Clay Walker is a four-time platinum-selling recording artist.

· Walker has topped the Billboard country singles chart six times in his career. He first topped the chart in 1993 with "What's It to You" and "Live Until I Die." Since then he's placed more than 30 singles on the Billboard charts, including four more No. 1 hits: "Dreaming With My Eyes Open," "If I Could Make A Living," "This Woman and This Man," and "Rumor Has It." "She Won't Be Lonely Long," Walker's latest album, was released on June 8, 2010. The title track, "She Won't Be Lonely Long," made it to No. 4 on the Billboard chart in 2010. The album's fourth single, "Jesse James," was released in 2012.

· Walker has built a reputation of generous community service by providing resources and raising awareness in support of those battling multiple sclerosis. Walker was diagnosed with MS in 1996 and is now in remission. He formed Band Against MS, a nonprofit organization that has raised more than $1 million for MS research. In 2009 Walker received the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's highest honor, the MS Hope Award, for outstanding civic and community service.

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