Oct. 8, 2024 (Middletown, Conn.) — The Middlesex Community College (MxCC) Foundation hosted the 13th annual Red Moon Gala on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2025. The lively fundraiser, which took place at the CT State Community College Middlesex campus in Middletown, brought together over 140 guests, alumni, faculty, staff and volunteers to participate in the live auction and basket raffle.
“Thank you to all who attended our Red Moon Gala on Saturday night. It was a wonderful time, hosting members of our campus community who came together in support of our students. We had record-breaking revenue from our sponsors, with over $10,000 raised from the live auction,” said Kimberly Hogan, CT State Middlesex CEO, who co-hosted the event with professor Rick Eriksen of the Center for New Media.
The gala raised $61,000 in total revenue, netting nearly $47,000 net proceeds allocated to student scholarships and educational initiatives directly for the CT State Middlesex campus. At least $10,000 of this amount came from the fund-a-cause appeal, supporting the library and the Pegasus Gallery. The basket raffle took in $3,000.
The fund-a-cause appeal is comprised of four levels targeted to library services not typically funded in the college budget. Wei Cen, director of campus library services, highlighted the numerous services offered by the Middlesex library, including art exhibits in the Pegasus Gallery, coordinated by Matt Weber, professor and chair, communications, humanities, digital media and the arts.
“The library is the gateway to opportunity for our students,” said Cen. “We welcome every student from all backgrounds and celebrate diversity with monthly displays.”
Ken Innocenci, chair of the MxCC Foundation, gave welcoming remarks. “Last year, the Foundation distributed over $70,000 is scholarships to Middlesex students,” he told the audience.
The live auction, with Eriksen as auctioneer, included golf packages, a South African safari trip, a Caribbean trip, a Tuscany trip, an overnight at Foxwoods with dinner, a weekend in Cape Cod, NY Jets football tickets, dinner party with wine pairing, chiropractic service, Trail of Terror tickets and car race track experience.
The crowd was entertained by national headliner John Pizzi, a multi-faceted comic and ventriloquist; food from Mindy K’s in Old Saybrook; Forest City Brewing craft beer; and wine from Rosabianca Vineyards.
For photos from the Red Moon Gala, full sponsor list or to make a donation to the MxCC Foundation, please visit mxcc.edu/redmoon.
The purpose of the Middlesex Community College Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, is to support CT State Middlesex and its students by encouraging and securing charitable contributions through the Foundation, and by managing and directing funds for scholarships, program and faculty development, instructional technology and equipment to create a learning environment that fosters student success.
