NESS Annual Benefit Gala

Join us!

Please join us for our largest fundraiser of the year, featuring live and silent auctions, paddle raises, dinner, and dancing! It will be an evening filled with NESS student stories and the impact you make on their lives through your generous support of NESS at this event and through-out the year. The evening will feature NESS student projects, thank you notes, testimonial stories, and interactive, experiential displays for guests to experience how NESS provides STEM-based education programs, on and off the water, for students.

Event Timeline

5:15 pm & 5:45 pm: Shuttle Departs from Stonington Borough to Hilton Mystic

5:30-7:00 pm: Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction

7:00 pm: Dinner

7:45 pm: Live Auction & Paddle Raise

9:00 pm: Dancing

10:00 pm: After Party in Irons

10:00 pm & 10:30 pm: Shuttle Departs from Hilton Mystic to Stonington Borough

Wondering what to wear? We encourage you to wear cocktail attire (and dancing shoes!).

Stay the night!

Stay overnight at the Mystic Hilton for $129 per night, up to two nights. Book your reservations online or over the phone. Use booking code is NESSF. Reservations can be made online at www.hiltonmystic.com or by calling 800-445-8667 (800-HILTONS). Reserve your room by October 11th, to secure this special rate.

Want a ride to the event?

We are offering shuttle service from Stonington to the Hilton Mystic. Shuttle tickets are $20 per person, round trip. Some sponsorship levels include complimentary shuttle service. Please check sponsor benefit packages for details.

Stonington Pick-Up (Town Docks, Public Parking Lot): 5:15 pm or 5:45 pm

Return times from Hilton Mystic: 10:00 pm or 10:30 pm