Special Events

Our annual Dream Gala is the most impactful fundraising event of the year. Guests enjoy an elegant evening of dining, student presentations, and community celebration, all to benefit Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School. 

This year’s gala will transport guests to a world of music, flavor, and purpose, set against the elegant backdrop of the Brady Center at Academy of the Holy Names overlooking Tampa Bay. This evening is more than just a celebration—it’s a chance to become a Dream Maker for our students, who are full of potential and simply seeking an opportunity to dream big!

Save the Date for our 2026 Dream Gala!

Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
 VIP Pre-Party: 6:00 PM
 Main Gala Doors Open: 7:00 PM

Your sponsorship or attendance directly supports our students’ education and future. Sponsorship and ticket purchase information will be posted in July 2026. 

An evening to thank the supporters who make our mission possible

• Reys A Glass is Cristo Rey Tampa High School’s annual fall donor appreciation event, created to honor and thank the generous supporters who make our mission possible. Each year, we gather with our donors and friends to express heartfelt gratitude for their commitment to Cristo Rey Tampa and the students we serve.
• The evening features student stories, brief reflections on impact, and opportunities for connection and celebration. Reys A Glass highlights the vital role donors play in transforming lives through faith, education, and professional work experience, and celebrates the lasting difference their generosity makes in preparing students for college, career, and life.

Stay tuned for the Reys A Glass event in September 2026.

Some of the most meaningful conversations about Cristo Rey Tampa don’t happen in a ballroom or boardroom—they happen around kitchen tables, in living rooms, and under string lights on back patios. 

Home Receptions are intimate gatherings hosted by generous supporters who believe so deeply in our mission that they feel compelled to share it with others. They open their homes—and their hearts—to friends, neighbors, and colleagues because they know: when people hear what’s happening at Cristo Rey Tampa, they’re moved to get involved. 

These evenings are simple, yet powerful. Guests hear directly from school leaders and students, watch a short video, and engage in authentic conversation about what’s possible when underserved youth are given access to a college-prep education, a professional work experience, and the guidance of a faith-filled community. 

In the past year alone, Home Receptions have introduced over 100 new friends to Cristo Rey Tampa—friends who now stand with us in helping students pursue lives filled with purpose and possibility. 

Hosting a Home Reception means more than inviting people over. It means giving others the chance to believe in something bigger than themselves—and to take part in transforming lives. 

Interested in hosting a home reception? Contact Megan Castro at mcastro@cristoreytampa.org

Mark your calendars for #GivingTuesday, a National Day of Giving! 

The first Tuesday of December, we rally our community to show the world what’s possible when we come together in generosity and faith. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every gift fuels opportunity, equity, and transformation. 

Together, we can achieve success—one student at a time. Keep an eye out for our online #givingtuesday campaign! 

Some of our most powerful moments happen when students reach their milestones. We invite our donors to witness the success they help create by joining us for: 

• CWSP Draft Day (August) – Modeled after a professional sports draft, this exciting event announces where each student will work in their Corporate Work Study Program placement. 
• College Decision Day (May) – A day of joy and pride as students announce their college choices. 

• Graduation  (end of May) – When it all comes together—years of hard work, growth, and transformation. 

These moments are made possible by YOU. Join in celebrating what your generosity makes real. If you would like to receive invitations to academic milestones, please email Marcom@cristoreytampa.org