The 20th annual Upper Darby GALA will be held on Saturday, January 20th at 3:00 PM in the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.

This “one of a kind” fund-raising Gala concert event has continued to “sell out” every year and showcases the incredible young musical talent of many hundreds of Upper Darby’s very diverse students and their outstanding music teachers.

In 1997, Joseph Batory who was then Upper Darby’s Superintendent of Schools inspired and motivated the creation of the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation (UDAEF). Since its inception 20 years ago, the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation—mainly through the GALA concert—has now raised more than two million dollars.  And all of this money has been returned to Upper Darby educators via 900+ mini grants to support activities and supplies which these educators could not otherwise afford.

For this year’s Platinum celebration,  the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation which sponsors the Upper Darby Gala will be honoring Joseph Batory–as the “Father of the Foundation” for his visionary work in creating this legacy of financial and community support for Upper Darby’s talented youth and bringing the joy of music to thousands of young people.

We are all in need these days of miracles and goodness and caring.  Nothing better exemplifies this magic than the amazing achievements of the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation and its GALA over the past 20 years on behalf of the children of the Upper Darby community.

___________