SBEF Announces Co-Chairs of 2015 Gala

Mano and Melissa DeAyala

A Magical Masquerade Ball enchants community on Nov. 21

Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) will host its annual gala, A Magical Masquerade Ball, on Saturday, November 21. Melissa and Mano DeAyala have been tapped to serve as co-chairs of the celebration. The event will raise funds to support Spring Branch ISD students and teachers through grants and scholarships – an effort that is important to the DeAyalas. Both are SBISD-educated, elementary through high school.

“We are honored to chair the Foundation’s Magical Masquerade Ball,” said Melissa DeAyala. “We are grateful for what SBEF does for SBISD’s 35,000 students. This is one way we can do our part in assuring this generation gets the excellent education we enjoyed. Mano and I look forward to seeing old and new friends at the gala. We promise a magical evening!”

Community service is a way of life for the DeAyala family. Early in their marriage, they focused their volunteer efforts on children. Involved in their own children’s schools, Melissa broadened her efforts district-wide by joining Spring Branch Education Foundation’s Board of Directors and Executive Board.

Through the Junior League, she became active in Texas Children’s Hospital. She and Mano are both engaged in SpringSpirit Baseball and various children’s charities. After coaching Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association teams for 13 years, Mano stepped into a governing role for the organization. He serves in leadership capacities for Hispanic Republicans of Texas and the C Club of Houston.

Melissa and Mano DeAyala went to elementary, middle and high schools in SBISD. They met at Memorial High School before he left for The University of Texas. She attended Southern Methodist University, where he joined her for law school.

The DeAyalas have three sons: Marcus, a biology major at UT; Matthew, a high school student at Briarwood; and Mitchell, a sixth-grader at Memorial Middle.

Guests at A Magical Masquerade Ball will meet Scott Muri, SBISD superintendent, and enjoy cocktails, dinner, extraordinary live and silent auctions, unique games and dancing to the music of the Doppelganger Band.

For regular updates, "like" SBEF on Facebook and follow SBEF93 on Twitter and Instagram. To make reservations, visit www.sbef.ejoinme.org/gala.

About Spring Branch Education Foundation:
Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare students for the future. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated almost $9 million to the district and received the Houston Business Promise Award from the Greater Houston Partnership. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.