To answer all your questions, we have put together this Gala Guide to keep you informed about Priory’s biggest social event and fundraiser. Print it up and tape it to the fridge, or keep it handy on your phone for easy reference -- and definitely reach out to one of us or any member of the Gala team if you have questions. 

It is sure to be a magical evening!

What is Hana Gala:

The Hana Gala is the flagship event of the Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco (KACF-SF), held annually to celebrate the local Korean community, gather Korean philanthropists, and fundraise to support the most critical needs of Koreans. It is the largest event of its kind on the West Coast.

This event is not just a festivity but also an opportunity to make a difference and address some of the pressing issues affecting our community, such as mental health, senior care, gender-based violence, economic security, and hate crimes. Your presence at the Hana Gala signifies a commitment to creating a positive change. Let's come together to reflect on the achievements of the past and contribute towards a future of an impactful, empowered, and generous Korean American community.

What to Expect:

The Hana Gala will take place at the Ritz Carlton Hotel San Francisco on May 3, 2025 at 5:30. With about 500 guests in attendance, the evening will include cocktails, a seated dinner, Live Auction, and our important Fund-a-Need campaign. Prepare for an opulent evening full of intrigue and masks. Then- the night gets rolling and the dancing begins as we un- mask ourselves in our moonlight inspired  ballroom.  

Invitations & Online Auction Registration: 

You will receive your invitation in the mail the last week of January. Even if you can not attend, make sure you take the time to register for our Silent Auction. Our Silent Auction will be entirely online, so it’s essential to register if you want to get your hands on our extraordinary offerings like vacation homes, fine wines, and sports tickets. Our Silent Auction will open on Wednesday, March 26th, and close after the Gala on Monday, March 30th, at noon.

How Seating Works

Our seating link will be on the Gala website by Mid-April so gather your friends and submit your table of ten. If you're not sure who to sit with, don’t fret. Let us help! We will seat you with parents from your child’s grade.

What to Wear

It’s Black Tie Optional, which means you’ll want to dress up. But in the Bay Area, that can mean everything from a tuxedo to your nicest hoodie.

Women

Men

Bidding – Strategize Ahead of Time

Remember, our Silent Auction is online only. Start your bidding strategy during our catalog preview so you will be ready to go when the online auction goes live on Wednesday, March 26th. You will receive an email and/or text with your personal bid link which allows you to bid on Silent Auction items and scoop up Count Me In party tickets. Don’t forget to save some of your budget for Fund-A-Future. The online Auction closes after the Gala on Monday, March 31st at noon. If you’re having trouble with your personal bid link, please reach out to Stephanie Kruse for help.

There are three ways to bid on silent items. 

• A traditional bid: place a fixed-amount bid on an item, and you will be notified through the bidding app on your phone if your bid has been exceeded by another bidder.

• Buy It Now: allows you to purchase an item right away for a fixed price, rather than bid on it. Once you Buy It Now, that item is no longer up for auction, and is yours.  Many of the silent items will have Buy It Now pricing.

• Max Bid: you set a maximum bid for yourself, and the system will automatically bid in your favor until that max bid is reached. If your bid is lower than another bidder’s highest max bid on that package, you will be prompted to enter a higher bid. Many silent items will have Max Bid pricing.

For live items, there will be bid paddles at your table for you to hold up during the Live Auction portion of the Gala.

New this year! 

The Mystery and Intrigue Continues. This year we will offer a few Pay to Play that will only be available the night of the Gala. Arrive early to find out the surprise parties and sign up. Don't miss out

Bidding with Friends

Often groups of friends decide to bid on an item together; this happens often with “buy the whole” parties or live items. If you want to purchase an item with friends, reach out to your friends before the Gala to form a syndicate. Prior to bidding, agree on who is in the group and the maximum you are all willing to pay for the item. The “lead bidder” does the bidding, but we can easily split the cost of the item on everyone’s final invoice, just ask! 

What is Fund-a-Need?

Our Fund-A-Future campaign secures resources for our financial aid fund. Did you know that one in six students receives financial assistance at Priory? During the Live Auction, you can hold up your paddle at different donation levels to support financial aid.  We hope you will support this vital and cherished part of the evening. If you are unable to attend the Gala but still want to support financial aid, please contact Stephanie Kruse.

Donate to our Gala Items Wish List

Every year we work hard to find unique and exclusive items to keep our parents yearning for more. Just some of the items in our wish list include:

• Weekend Getaways in Carmel, Tahoe, or the Wine Country

• Vacation Homes in Hawaii, Mexico, Beach cities like San Diego and Newport Beach, Tahoe, the Wine Country, or Carmel

• Special Access to Wineries or Backstage Passes

• Access to Private Chefs and Private Aviation

• Does your company have access to suites at sporting events or tickets? 

• Do you have contacts at jewelry stores or luxury brand stores?

• Would you be willing to ask your favorite restaurant, spa or store to donate a gift certificate?

• Wine & Spirits are always popular

• Parties - Gather your friends, pick a theme and provide either a Count-me-in and Buy-it-now for our community

• Do you have a fabulous idea for us? We want to hear from you!

Those once-in-a-lifetime items do well, so get those creative juices flowing! Remember, your donation is tax-deductible and you will receive a written acknowledgment for your donation. Our auction Item deadline is  February 28, 2025. 

Donate Your Item or Count Me in Party Here

FAQs

• Q: I was invited to attend. Am I obligated to donate money?

• Q: How can I get involved or learn more about KACF-SF?

• Q: What are some other ways to donate?

• Q: Are children allowed to attend?
  A: While we love children, the Hana Gala is for adults 21 and older (with few exceptions).