THE GAYLA

April 5, 2025

4pm - 10pm

St Julien Hotel & Spa

900 Walnut St, Boulder, CO

CONTACT:

Juan Moreno (he)

MORE INFO:

DETAILS

The Gayla is BACK this Spring!

Join us as we not only return to the St Julien Hotel but move our GAYLA back to the spring for the first time in 6 years. All attendees will enjoy the evening’s entertainment, including our live auction and our surprise guest for the evening! Whichever option you choose, this is a night you won't want to miss, so please mark your calendars and purchase your tickets today. This year, we’re switching things up and instead of heads or tails, we’ll be hosting Auction Grab !

All VIP ticket holders also receive:

Entry into the reception & main event
VIP meet & greet with our special guest, Harper Steele
VIP meal and dessert choices
Access to complimentary premium bar
One entry for a chance to win our VIP-only prize
- 5-day stay in Playa Junquillal, Costa Rica (Donated by Karen & Tom Collins)

You won’t want to miss it—this year’s special guest is Harper Steele!

Harper Steele is an Emmy-winning veteran comedy writer and producer, most known for her thirteen years with Saturday Night Live where she eventually became the head writer. After leaving Saturday Night Live, Steele took over as Creative Director of the comedy website Funny or Die, started by her friends Adam McKay and Will Ferrell. While at Funny or Die, Steele wrote the films, Casa De Mi Padre, Deadly Adoption, and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

Most recently, Steele was the subject of the new Netflix documentary Will & Harper, which chronicles her evolving relationship with longtime collaborator and friend Will Ferrell. The documentary centers around a road trip the two friends take across America for the first time since Harper’s transition, and nearly thirty years after they first met on the set of SNL. Will & Harper premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and debuted on Netflix on September 27.

2025 Changemaker Indiviual Award:

Nadine Bridges

Nadine Bridges is a dedicated advocate, leader, and champion for social justice with over 20 years of experience working with vulnerable communities. As the first Black and female Executive Director of One Colorado, the state’s leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, Nadine has led groundbreaking initiatives, including the successful effort to repeal Colorado’s same-sex marriage ban and blocking over 30 anti-trans ballot initiatives. Under her leadership, One Colorado has expanded access to gender-affirming care, fought against book bans and forced outings, and strengthened protections for LGBTQ+ Coloradans.

A committed racial equity and anti-oppression advocate, Nadine has served as a professor, mentor, counselor, and activist. Before joining One Colorado, she managed the Community Health Division for Boulder County Public Health, leading programs that shaped local and state policy to reduce health disparities. She served on the Advisory Committee of Racial Diversity to the Dean at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work, is a Health Equity Commissioner for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and is on the Board of Directors for the Equality Federation. She was a director of LGBTQIA+ youth programs, a Peace Corps volunteer in Nicaragua, and a professor at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work.

Nadine’s contributions to advocacy have earned her numerous honors, including the Transformation 2024 IDEA Leader in Nonprofit Award, the Denver Pride Center Stage Icon Award and the African American Who Makes a Difference Award. Her insights on leadership and equity have been published in Nonprofit Quarterly, and she is a sought-after speaker for national and local conferences.

Nadine holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver and a BA and BS in Biology from the College of Charleston. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, baking, and spending time with her wife, Liz, and their loved ones.

2025 Changemaker Corporate Award:

Social Venture Partners Boulder County

SVP Boulder County is where community and collaboration meet to strengthen local nonprofits. As the only organization in Boulder County dedicated to supporting nonprofits at their core, they connect passionate individuals— SVP Partners—with local organizations to amplify their impact.

Through mentorship, strategic support, and financial resources, they help nonprofits thrive. SVP partners work alongside nonprofit leaders, offering expertise in board development, fundraising, operations, finance, marketing, and more. Since 2000, SVP has supported hundreds of nonprofits, providing $1.7 million in grants and $7 million in pro bono consulting and skilled volunteering.

At SVP, they believe that strong nonprofits create a stronger community.