Makos Academics, Arts & Athletic Club Gala Aug. 9

Makos Academics, Arts & Athletic Club Gala Aug. 9

By Michaela Miller
The Makos Academics, Arts & Athletics Club (MAAAC) is excited to announce the 6th Annual MAAAC Gala taking place on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 5:30 to 11:00 p.m. at the Perdido Beach Resort Grand Ballroom. Sponsored by Perdido Beach Resort, this annual event brings the community together for an elegant evening in support of Orange Beach City Schools students and district initiatives.
Attendees will enjoy a night of music, food and drinks, an exclusive silent auction, recognition awards, and more. The 2025 special awards will be presented to Mr. Craig Stephenson, recipient of the IMPACT Award and Mr. Milo and Donna Mathis, recipients of the Volunteer of The Year Award.
All ticket sales generated go 100% to the MAAAC Scholarship Fund, which is used to award graduating seniors of OBMHS each year. Last year, the MAAAC was able to award 6 recipients with scholarships valued at $2,000 each.
Tables of 12 are available for $1,500 total, while individual tickets are $150. Local educators within the Orange Beach City School System may purchase tickets at a reduced rate of $50 per ticket. Tickets are available for purchase now at obmaaac.org/maaac-gala.
Since its inception in 2019, the MAAAC has fundraised and distributed more than $1.5 million to enhance educational opportunities for students in Orange Beach. Events such as the Gala are one of many ways that the organization contributes to achieving the goals of our community through ticket sales and silent-auction proceeds.
The MAAAC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the educational experience of Orange Beach City Schools by funding initiatives in academics, the arts, and athletics. To learn more about the organization, visit obmaaac.org or follow their Facebook page at facebook.com/OBMAAAC to keep in touch.
Pictured: (above) OBES first graders thanking the MAAAC for supporting their school; (below) MAAAC presented graduating seniors Kakki Law, Libby Tierce, Rivers Webb, Monroe Richtmyer, Hallie Zimmerman, and Sanders Semiklose with scholarships valued at $2,000 each last May; IMPACT Award recipient Craig Stephenson started teaching fire prevention and safety to students at Orange Beach Elementary School in 2003. He was also the city’s fire marshal from 2012 to 2020. Each morning, Mr. Craig greeted students with a warm smile and became a cherished part of their daily routine until his retirement in 2020. He has built strong community ties since moving to the island in the 1980s; Milo and Donna Mathis are inaugural MAAAC Volunteers of The Year award recipients. Milo taught for 39 years in Georgia. Donna taught Kindergarten through College in public, private, and homeschool settings as well as coached various sports. Milo and Donna have been MAAAC members since the beginning, and can be seen volunteering on the frontline with smiling faces at every fundraising event. Mr. Craig and Donna and Milo will be recognized during ceremonies at the Aug. 9 gala.