Morningstar to host Black Tie Trivia for Winter Gala 

Last year’s inaugural gala, a Masquerade Ball, raised $100K for Big Sky’s only licensed early childhood education provider 

By Jack Reaney ASSOCIATE EDITOR 

On Feb. 9, Morningstar Learning Center will host a black tie trivia event to raise funds and awareness for quality, affordable child care in Big Sky.

The event begins at 5:45 p.m. at the Montage hotel, where MLC hosted its Inaugural Winter Gala last year. Executive Director Mariel Butan told EBS that last year’s Masquerade Ball was an “incredible success,” raising $100,000 and building connections around awareness of the cause. This year, Butan said the four-round trivia game will add a “ridiculously fun” element. Tickets are on sale, and 55 seats remain as of Jan. 17.  

“The major aim of the event is similar to last year: to build general awareness and support from our community for early childhood education,” Butan said. She said the first five years of a child’s life are the most critical for cognitive development, and also require the most intensive supervision and teaching.  

Through continued efforts to build awareness, Butan hopes people will recognize the need for quality education in pre-kindergarten years.   

“All of these children need an enriching and safe place to learn and grow and make friends and develop… You don’t have to be doing algebra and calculus for your brain to be learning at the fastest pace it ever will be during your entire life,” she said.  

As important as child care may be, financial feasibility is a challenge. 

“Like all licensed centers across the state and country, we’re facing a very challenging funding cliff. ARPA funding is running out and the clock is ticking for all of us to figure out how we can remain both a high-quality program and affordable for working families,” she said.  

The proceeds from last year’s event directly supported efforts to keep tuition affordable, she said. In the past year, Morningstar has also been able to provide housing for teachers who need it, and Butan is proud of that effort.  

“That financial hill that we have to climb still remains,” she said, although she noted that it’s much more productive to inspire people than to dwell on the negatives. Morningstar’s Winter Gala is intended to inspire.   

Trivia night to include prizes, auctions 

Butan said Black Tie Trivia will provide a great time playing trivia while also supporting an impactful cause. And while last year’s Masquerade Ball served great food, Butan said she’s even more excited for this year’s menu.  

“The Montage, their whole culinary team is just fabulous. I’m excited for people to come and taste what we have on deck for them,” Butan said.  

One item up for bidding during the event’s live and silent auctions is a pastry class with Montage Executive Pastry Chef Jeremy Vitou.  

Butan previewed some other prizes, including early-ups on the new Lone Peak Tram with Big Sky Ski Patrol, a hot air balloon ride for two donated by Big Sky Build, a week-long stay at a property donated by Two Pines Properties, and a pair of skis and bindings from the Yellowstone Club. The event’s trivia winner will be given a trophy.

MLC has 26 kids on its waiting list at the moment, fairly typical for recent years, Butan said. Only two of those children are over the age of 3. 

Butan said MLC is keen on getting a larger facility to better fit the learning center’s purpose and the community’s needs—the current building’s configuration limits the number and age of kids enrolled. While the current facility has done the trick for the past 15 years, a dedicated child care facility could increase capacity.  

While the long term need for facility continues to loom, money raised at the February trivia event will be used for immediate purposes to keep Morningstar up and running at the high level of quality Butan insists on. Whether attendees have children in the early childhood age group, or children at all, quality child care is essential for society and the Big Sky community to thrive, Butan said.  

“There’s just a lot of need in our community right now. I do feel strongly that Morningstar and child care is kind of at the crux of some other needs we have,” she said.