MARQUETTE — The inaugural Spread Goodness Gala, hosted by Mandala Events and Weddings, will be held at the Marquette Regional History Center from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, March 14.

The event is an extension of Spread Goodness Day, a local nonprofit organization that inspires individuals and communities to spread goodness for themselves and one another on a global scale.

“There’s always been a lot of ideas on how to make it more special,” said Anna Dravland, founder of Spread Goodness Day. “(Sarah Tullila) and I both have histories as event planners, and it’s been a natural thing to want to have the fundraising gala. We’ve just been waiting for the right year and the right timing. It’s been (a dream) in the back of our brains since the beginning. It’s been cool as we talk to individuals and business sponsors — we’ve had a lot of positive responses.”

Featuring a buffet dinner by Lake Superior Smokehouse, drink tickets, sunny music and more, the gala will also donate gift cards from sponsor businesses at random to guests throughout the night, encouraging attendees to visit the local shops and pick their own prizes. Alex Palzewicz, chef and manager at Barrel + Beam’s Northwoods Test Kitchen, will be the evening’s guest host.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, it doesn’t matter what you believe in outside of those doors, we’re spreading goodness to each other. It creates a natural energy of positive unity and celebration together.” Dravland said.

There will also be a mutual celebration of Pi(e) Day, sponsored by Select Realty of Marquette. Local celebrities, including Jesie Melchiori of the Up North Lodge, Andi Goriesky of Select Realty, Mark “Ham” Hamari of Marquette Wallpaper and Paint, and Dave Aro of Superior Rehabilitation and Professional Services & Active Physical Therapy, will be lending their faces to be smashed with pies from Peace Pie Company as part of a fundraiser for the nonprofit Six Feet Over. Each celebrity will be pied five times, and live bidding will decide who gets to do the pie smashing. The fundraiser will be held in honor and remembrance of Pat Bray, former executive director of the Trillium House, and one who lent his face for the 2020 inaugural pie smash.

“It’s a really playful fundraiser to support something that’s hard to talk about,” said Dravland. (It) raises awareness (about the issue) and that there are resources if you’ve been thinking about that sort of thing or if you’ve been affected by it.”

Six Feet Over is a nonprofit which provides financial assistance, cleaning services, and additional support for families affected by suicide. Aro brought a local chapter to the Marquette community after the loss of his close friend Pat Bray. All of the proceeds from the pie smashing will go to the organization’s efforts.

Tickets for the event are available online for $125 each, which includes a buffet dinner, two drink tickets and desserts from Peace Pie Company. There will also be a cash bar with beer, wine and cocktails, in addition to surprises throughout the night for guests.

“It’s a personal belief that when you do good, you feel good,” said Tullila, wedding planner and owner of Mandala Events. “Being in that nonjudgmental space and offering that to other people and strip(ping) away any and all of the labels…(you can) just come in and join in the goodness.”

Any local businesses looking to donate gift cards for the event can contact Mandala Events at mandalaeventsmqt.com.

The event is limited to 150 attendees, and tickets can be purchased via Venmo on spreadgoodnessday.com/spread-goodness-gala or at eventbrite.com/e/spread-goodness-gala-tickets-1155833461999.

More information about Six Feet Over can be found online at sixftover.org.

Local and national resources if you or a loved one is thinking about suicide:

≤ 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988, press 1 for veterans services, 3 for LGBTQ+ services, or visit 988lifeline.org.

≤ The Veterans Crisis Line: Visit veteranscrisisline.net.

≤ Crisis Text Line: Text SAVE to 741741.

≤ Pathways Community Mental Health Crisis Line: Dial 1-888-728-4929.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email is alaforest@miningjournal.net.