School for Life Foundation Gala Ball 2025

Sara Flaksbard

For the second consecutive year, Laissez-faire Catering was engaged to support the School for Life Foundation charity gala. We previously catered last year’s event at White Bay Cruise Terminal. For 2025, with just five weeks’ notice, the client urgently required a new venue. As a trusted partner, Laissez-faire recommended and secured one of our venue partners - The Venue Alexandria. We knew this venue, with three distinct spaces, would be ideal for the calibre of event, featuring celebrity guests, multimedia content, and live fundraising auctions.

Delivering a three-course meal to over 600 guests during a program packed with speeches, video segments, and live auctions demanded precision, flexibility, and speed. Our team of 80 staff worked in unison to maintain flawless service without compromising on taste, timing, or sustainability.

The bespoke menu featured seasonal Australian produce, low-waste preparation, and eco-conscious service elements. Every detail—from kitchen coordination to floor management—was carefully orchestrated to ensure service integrated seamlessly into the event’s tight schedule and high-energy atmosphere.

The night was a huge success raising $1.5m on the night and $3m overall. The evening, despite venue changes with only 5 weeks to plan, delivered a premium guest experience and upheld the gala’s reputation. The event showcased Laissez-faire Catering’s ability to lead with calm confidence, adapt quickly, and deliver with impact—no matter the brief. For our second time supporting this client, they were absolutely delighted and expectations exceeded, not only with the execution, but with helping them resolve an immensely stressful venue challenge.