Cross Trails Ministry Gift of Faith Gala

Help us raise funds to keep camp affordable for all and make sure no one misses out because of the cost!

There will be a gathering at The Courtyard by Marriott River Village in New Braunfels

on Saturday, March 2nd beginning at 5pm.

Purchase your tickets to attend!

Ticket sales closed Monday, February 19.

Cocktail Attire Requested

There will be great food, music by The Grooves, entertainment, auctions, and fellowship.

You are invited to come & enjoy a wonderful time while you help to keep camp affordable for everyone!

Following the programmed portion of the event, guests are invited to stay and attend an "After the Gala Social" at our event venue.

If you cannot join us in New Braunfels, we want to invite you to participate from the comfort of your home.  Our silent auction and other fundraising opportunities will be held online here beginning February 25th.

Our goal this year is to raise $65,000 and we need your help to get there!

Why Participate in the Gift of Faith Gala?

The gala helps raise funds for Camperships and to help keep camp costs low!

Camperships are scholarships that campers & families can apply for to help lower the already subsidized cost of camp to ensure the opportunity for anyone that wants to come to camp, can do so! Our goal is to raise $65,000!

Sponsors, Donors, and Participants are essential to the success of this event and to our sites and programs. The event will be held as a hybrid event. There will be a gathering at The Courtyard by Marriott in New Braunfels on March 2nd where there will be great food, music, entertainment, auctions, and fellowship!

How You Can Participate

Register to Participate: Everyone is welcome to participate in our online event! You can bid on items, purchase an item from the wishing wall, buy raffle tickets, and donate from home by registering for free. 

Become a Sponsor: Event sponsorships help us to cover the overhead expenses of the event. They are a wonderful way for you, your business, or your congregation, to contribute greatly to the Gala's success. Our grateful thanks will be shared at the Gala, in the Gala program, and in our post gala news releases. Those who wish to remain anonymous will also be honored as such.

Become a Champion: Champions help us fundraise to help meet our goal of sending campers and their families to camp and to help keep camp affordable for all. Check out the section below to create your own fundraising page.

Become a Donor: We are collecting items for this year's event and you can help with the gala's success by donating items to the auctions or to the wine pull. We are looking for items or experiences of $50 or more for our auctions.

Purchase a Ticket: We would love for you to join us in person in New Braunfels.  Purchase a ticket to attend this year's event! Ticket sales end February 19th. If you plan to attend, there are a limited number of rooms part of a room block for this event. Contact The Courtyard by Marriott by calling 830-626-4700. The room block rate is available till February 1st or until all rooms are booked. 

Auction Participation

How to Bid on Silent Auction Items

1. Register or Sign In

2. Click the "Items" tab or button at the top of the page

3. Select an item you'd like to view or bid on

4. Choose amount - you can use the suggested bid or bid a higher amount.

     TIP: Try using the auto-bid feature - it will make sure you're not outbid until the bidding goes over your set amount!

5. Click bid and watch your item!

 The silent auction will close at 8:15pm CST on Saturday, March 2, 2024

How to Bid on Live Auction Items

1. Register or Sign In

2. Click the "Items" tab or button at the top of the page

3. Select an item you'd like to view or bid on. It will still be in preview mode.

4. Click on the "Place Your Bid Here!" link.

5. Fill out the form and tell us your maximum bid for that item and click submit.

6. A staff member will bid by proxy for you at the in-person event!

 Bidding from home for the Live Auction will close at 12:00pm CST on Saturday, March 2, 2024

Receiving Your Auction Items

Auction and event check-out will be done online through GiveSmart. Visit the Pay tab at the top of the GiveSmart homepage to review your purchase summary and check out with a credit card. Payment for any auction item, raffle ticket, Wishing Wall item or donation is due on Sunday, March 3rd. Cross Trails Ministry will automatically charge any outstanding balances no later than Friday, March 8, 2024.

If you win an item, we will reach out to you by Friday, March 8, 2024 to coordinate fulfilling your item. Many of our auction item donors have graciously agreed to arrange to mail items to their winners! If that is the case, you will receive the donor's contact information after the auction. If your item is being held by Cross Trails, we will contact you after the auction to arrange a pick up or to mail your item. If you prefer to have your item(s) shipped to you, please add item #500, "Shipping," to your cart before checking out to help CTM cover the cost of shipping your item.

Thank you for your patience as we work through each item's winning bids to ensure everything gets to the rightful owner. For any questions about auction items, please email [email protected].

Event Details

The Grooves Band

We are excited to have The Grooves cover band performing at our event this year! Make sure you buy a ticket so you don't miss out on an evening of fun and dancing. For more information about the band, check them out at The Grooves Website!

Be a Gala Sponsor

Most of the funds raised at this event are raised through the auctions & sponsorships.  Please consider sponsoring if you are able.  All sponsors will be acknowledged during the event & in pre and post event publications. Click the button below to sponsor the event.

All sponsorships that offer tickets to the Gift of Faith Gala must be purchased by 1pm February 19th in order to guarantee use of those tickets. Those sponsorships can still be purchased following that date and time, but tickets will no longer be an option for use.

Platinum Sponsor $5000

A portion of the sponsorship will be tax deductible depending on choice of table, meeting space, or full donation sponsorship
Your choice of a reserved table for 10 at the event in a premier location in the ballroom or day use of meeting space &lunch for up to 16 people at Camp Chrysalis or Ebert Ranch
A set of beads for each guest at your table to participate in our Heads/Tails Game
Drink service during the event at your table
Special appreciation treats for each of your guests

Gold Sponsor $3000

A portion of the sponsorship will be tax deductible depending on choice of table, meeting space, or full donation sponsorship
Your choice of a reserved table for 10 at the event or day use of meeting space & lunch for up to 12 people at Camp Chrysalis or Ebert Ranch
A set of beads for each guest at your table to participate in our Heads/Tails Game
Special appreciation treats for each of your guests

Silver Sponsor $1500

A portion of the sponsorship will be tax deductible depending on choice of tickets, meeting space, or full donation sponsorship
Your choice of four tickets to the event that you can use or give to people of your choice or day use of meeting space & lunch for up to 8 people at Camp Chrysalis or Ebert Ranch
A set of beads for each of your guests to participate in our Head/Tails Game

Bronze Sponsor $500

A portion of the sponsorship will be tax deductible depending on choice of tickets or full donation sponsorship
Two tickets to the event that you can use or give to people of choice
A set of beads for each of your guests to participate in our Head/Tails Game

Table Sponsor $1,000

A portion of the sponsorship will be tax deductible depending on choice of table or full donation sponsorship
Reserved table for 10 at the event

Wine Wall Sponsor $250 (Sold Out)

This sponsorship helps camp to secure some higher end bottles ($50+) to be part of the wine pull.

Happy Hour Sponsor $250 (Sold Out)

This sponsorship helps cover drink costs during the time that guests are arriving and prior to the dinner and event program. 

Late Night Snack Sponsor $250 (4 needed)

This sponsorship helps cover food costs during the social following the event program. 

Ticket Sponsorship  $75

These make it possible for us to let staff, honorees, gala committee members, & volunteers attend the event for minimal to no cost. If you would like to sponsor a ticket, please consider a gift of $75 per ticket.  

Be a Gala Sponsor

Auction Donations

(Donations are now closed)

Live & Silent Items

We are excited to be hosting an online auction in conjunction with an in person event for this year's Gift of Faith Gala being held on March 2, 2024. We would love for you to be involved by donating an item(s) and by being a participant.

Items that have done well in the past are artisan crafted items as well as trips or experiences. We would love to have items that are at a $50 value or higher to place in the auction to help raise funds for our campership program and to keep camp affordable for all.

If you are willing to donate an item, please complete the form by clicking the link below and a Cross Trails Ministry staff member will be in touch with you to finalize any details. All items you are would like to donate must have a commitment by February 19, 2024 in order for items to be placed on our bidding site. Please fill out this form for EACH item you would be willing to donate.

Click Here to Donate Your Items for the Gift of Faith Gala Auctions

Thank you for being part of making this ministry happen for so many!

 Thank You to Our 2024 Gift of Faith Gala Sponsors

Who is Cross Trails Ministry?

Cross Trails Ministry is a year-round ministry to youth, adults and families.

Based in the Hill Country of southwestern Texas, Cross Trails Ministry offers summer camp & retreats to thousands each year.

Two sites are at the heart of this ministry, Lutheran Camp Chrysalis near Kerrville & Ebert Ranch Camp near Harper.

We also offer off-site opportunities in unique locations around Texas & beyond.