Country Star Matt Stell to Headline 8th Annual Great Hearts Gala

PHOENIX – Great Hearts Academies is proud to announce the return of its Great Hearts Gala, presented by Smead Capital Management. The event takes place on Friday, November 7, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at Warehouse 215 in downtown Phoenix. One of nine new artists in the past six years to have consecutive #1 hits, Matt Stell will be the headlining performer at the Great Hearts Gala.

Matt Stell has quickly made his mark on Country music with his two back-to-back chart toppers: 2x platinum “Prayed For You” and platinum “Everywhere But On.” Speaking his truth for the first time in his autobiographical debut album, Born Lonely features the Top 20 hit Country radio single, “Breakin’ in Boots” – just one of 10 co-written anthems ripping the bandages off a wounded soul, and confirming Stell’s status as a fearless modern Country troubadour. Amassing over half a billion global career streams, he’s the first-ever artist to receive a virtual plaque from the RIAA for multi-week breakout “Prayed For You,” and is an ASCAP Pop and Country most-performed song awards winner.

Stacking high-profile TV looks with Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s #LateShowMeMusic digital series, he’s also performed the national anthem for major NASCAR and NFL events. Playing his headlining The Man Made Tour 2022 to capacity crowds, he’s supported Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, and Chris Young. With Billboard touting his “versatile” style, collaborations include his “One Of Us” remix featuring Chase Matthew, as well as having a guest spot on “When You Know” (Cheat Codes), “Over You is You” (Tenille Arts), and “Hometown Boys” (Dierks Bentley and HARDY).

The theme for this year’s event is Gold Rush Gala: An evening of elegance and fortune. All proceeds will support the Teacher Excellence Fund which provides bonus compensation every December to reward and retain the best Great Hearts teachers across Arizona.

This signature event is the largest fundraiser for the Teacher Excellence Fund, giving Great Hearts Academies the opportunity to reward the Arizona teachers who worked harder than ever this year. Last year’s gala raised over $850,000 which provided 875 Arizona teachers with bonus compensation this past December. This fall, the signature event aims to do the same with the sole purpose of putting even more money in the pockets of the teachers.

This year’s 2025 Co-Chairs are Brian Piper and Shar Najafi-Piper and Eric and Amanda Ryan. Both couples have two kids at Great Hearts Scottsdale. Together, they are an incredible force for good. Through their leadership and personal sponsorships, the 2025 Co-Chairs will lead the charge to raise $1 million to continue to keep the very best teachers in the classroom.

The Gala is made possible thanks to the following generous sponsors: Smead Capital Management, Great Clips, Copa Health, UMB Bank, Roya Health, Casas Bonitas, Coffin & Trout Fine Jewellers, Baird, Marsh & McLennan, Lerner & Rowe Gives Back, Carhuff & Cueva Architects, Pace Group Media, Cigna, Athletic Applications, Fester & Chapman, Delta Dental, the King Family, Renovation Orthopaedics, Headfarmer, Biltmore Pro Print, ER2, Grace Design, GCON, Chermack Consulting Group, Elevate Parking, Montage Photo Booth, Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, and Sharp Business Systems.

Sponsorship packages begin at $5,000 and are available to both families and corporations. To donate, sponsor, or volunteer at the Gala visit www.GreatHeartsGala.org or contact Keara Marsh, Development Officer of Events, at (559) 827-5507 or Keara.Marsh@GreatHearts.org for more information.

About Great Hearts

Great Hearts, a non-profit organization, is the leading provider of classical education in the country with in-person public charter, online charter, and private academy offerings across multiple states dedicated to improving education nationwide through classical preparatory PK-12 academies. As the largest provider of classical education campuses in the country, Great Hearts Academies serves more than 30,000 students at 52 academies in greater Phoenix, Ariz., Texas, and Louisiana. Great Hearts also offers online academies across the United States. Great Hearts provides a robust classical liberal arts curriculum incorporating advanced math and science and a focus on the arts and foreign language. Above all, Great Hearts cultivates minds and hearts for the lifelong pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Learn more at greatheartsamerica.org.

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