The Hord Foundation, Inc Annual Gala takes place Saturday, March 12, from 7 pm to midnight, at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury. Established in January 1993 by Noel Hord and his late wife, Cora, of Danbury, the foundation has since awarded more than $4.1 million in scholarships to help more than 1,500 minority youth achieve their educational goals.

"My late wife was a teacher, and I come from a family of educators," explained Mr Hord. When Sam Hyman, then the chair of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to raise money for the NAACP scholarship approached them in 1988, the Hords threw a party. "We raised $2,700," said Mr Hord, but liked knowing that 100 percent went to the local scholars. By the fourth year, the Hords' party was raising $20,000, all supporting the scholars. When it was found that the local NAACP was in violation by not sending half of the money raised to national headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., the Hords decided to create the Hord Foundation, ensuring that all of the money benefited the young people locally.

"In 1993, we raised $50,000," said Mr Hord. That same year, he and his wife moved from Danbury, and a year after that, Mrs Hord passed away.

Volunteers continued to support the foundation, as did he, said Mr Hord, and eventually he returned to Danbury where he continues to promote the Hord Foundation.

Bernard McFadden of Newtown serves as vice chairman of the foundation. Two of his children have been recipients of scholarships from the Hord Foundation.

Matthew McFadden graduated from Newtown High School in 2004, and then continued schooling at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where he graduated with a BS in computer science, in 2008.

"I'm currently in my second year of the MBA program at Columbia Business School [in New York]," said Matthew. "[The Hord Scholarship] definitely helped out," he said, making it easier to pay for the many added expenses - computer, books - that are part of the college experience. He has helped read applications for the scholarships over the years. "College expenses keep rising. The Hord Foundation helps defray some of the cost for students in the area," said Matthew.

According to information provided by the Hord Foundation, "Today the Foundation has grown in sponsorships and the Fund the Legacy campaign. It has given many the opportunity to give back and enabled others to realize their dreams." Local politicians, national and international corporations, local businesses, national fraternities and sororities, and individual contributors support the volunteer-based organization.

Students from area towns are currently applying for Hord Scholarships. Applicants must complete an essay and a personal interview with the committee, Mr Hord said, but the first criteria is the student's grade point average, followed by community involvement, and then the student's need.

The Hord Foundation has numerous sponsors that provide community scholarships. Those community scholarships are given to the Hord Foundation, which then awards the 75-80 Hord Scholars each year. Recipients receive one lump sum, between $1,000 and $5,000 dollars. Hord Scholars can reapply every year, for four years, for the scholarship.

The Annual Gala is the organization's largest fundraise of the year. This year, the organization hopes to raise between $150,000 and $200,000 at the event, said Mr Hord. Along with dinner and dancing, attendees also hear from Hord scholars at the gala.

"It's a fun evening, for a worthwhile cause," Mr Hord said.

The Annual Gala is open to the public. Tickets are $150 per person, and can be reserved at hordfoundation.org.