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Degrees Beyond Borders Gala logo

DIGITAL CITIZEN FUND × SAINT PETER’S UNIVERSITY


The Degrees Beyond Borders Gala

to benefit the Afghan Girls’ Higher Education Initiative


An evening supporting 25 Afghan girls to pursue an Associate's Degree from inside Afghanistan.

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Venue: Duncan Family Sky Room · Saint Peter’s University
Address: 47 Glenwood Avenue, Jersey City
Cocktails: 6:00–7:00 PM
Dinner, Silent Auction & Program: 7:00 PM
Attire: Black Tie


GALA COMMITTEE

· Lauren Alemany · Susan Arndt · Meredith Burns · Brandy Garrett-Kluthe

· Rosanne Panepinto Taufield · Jerry Taufield · Olivia Holt-Ivry · Elizabeth Kornstein · Elaha Mahboob


With the support of members of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George


Online Education

Online Education

Sponsorships & Tables

Sponsorships & Tables

Gala Tickets

Gala Tickets

THE PROGRAM

THE PROGRAM

A DEGREE.
A FUTURE.
A LIFE RECLAIMED.

A U.S. college degree, earned from inside Afghanistan.

The Degrees Beyond Borders Gala will support the first cohort of 25 Afghan girls pursuing an online Associate of Science in Business Management at Saint Peter’s University from inside Afghanistan.


At a time when the Taliban have banned 2.4 million women and girls from attending school beyond grade six, this program creates a new pathway to higher education and economic independence.


Initial funding goal: $100k to seat all 25 students


Every dollar raised beyond our $100k initial goal will help DCF expand this opportunity to more girls.


SPONSORSHIPS & TABLES

Every sponsorship funds 1 or more Afghan girls’ degrees.



PRESENTING SPONSOR · $50,000

Funds twelve girls’ degrees

· Two VIP tables for 16 guests total with premier placement

· Five tickets to a VIP screening of Rule Breakers*

· Name or logo on screen, step-and-repeat, event materials, signage, and digital invitation

· Speaking opportunity at the gala

· Recognition in social media mentions

· Opportunity to include promotional materials in guest gift bags

· Speaking opportunity at the virtual graduation of Afghan scholars


BEACON · $25,000

Funds six girls’ degrees

· One table for 8 guests with preferred placement

· Four tickets to a VIP screening of Rule Breakers*

· Podium recognition

· Name or logo on screen, step-and-repeat, event materials, and signage

· Recognition in social media mentions

· Invitation to the virtual graduation of Afghan scholars


LANTERN · $15,000

Funds three girls’ degrees

· One table for 8 guests

· Three tickets to a VIP screening of Rule Breakers*

· Name or logo on step-and-repeat, event materials, and signage

· Recognition in social media mentions


CANDLE · $10,000

Funds two girls’ degrees

· One table for 8 guests

· Two tickets to a VIP screening of Rule Breakers*

· Name or logo on event materials, and signage

· Recognition in social media mentions


TABLE · $5,000

Funds one girl’s degree

· One table for 8 guests

· Two tickets to a VIP screening of Rule Breakers*

· Name or logo on signage

*AN EXCLUSIVE RULE BREAKERS SCREENING

Sponsorship packages include invitations to a VIP screening of the feature film, Rule Breakers, in 2027 at Art House Productions in Jersey City.


SILENT AUCTION

The Degrees Beyond Borders Ball will feature a silent auction benefiting the Afghan Girls’ Higher Education Initiative.


A Beacon Day Trip

Enjoy a day of art and afternoon tea in Beacon, New York, with four tickets to Dia Beacon and a $65 gift card to Moreish.


Dia Beacon: Explore contemporary art from the 1960s to today in a former Nabisco printing factory, approximately 60 miles north of New York City. Tickets generously donated by Dia Art Foundation.


Moreish: Savor afternoon tea at this British restaurant in Beacon, named Best British Food in Hudson Valley Magazine’s 2024 Best of Hudson Valley. Afternoon tea is available by reservation.

Every sponsorship funds full degrees for Afghan girls.


TABLE · $5,000

Funds one girl’s degree

One table for 8 guests

· Logo on table signage

· Two tickets to the VIP screening of Rule Breakers


CANDLE · $10,000

Funds two girls’ degrees

One table for 8 guests

· Two tickets to the VIP screening of Rule Breakers

· Logo on event materials and signage

· Recognition in social media mentions


LANTERN · $15,000

Funds three girls’ degrees

One table for 8 guests

· Three tickets to the VIP screening of Rule Breakers

· Logo on step-and-repeat, event materials and signage

· Recognition in social media mentions



BEACON · $25,000

Funds six girls’ degrees

One table for 8 guests with preferred placement

· Four tickets to the VIP screening of Rule Breakers

· Podium recognition

· Logo on stage screen, step-and-repeat, event materials and signage

· Recognition in social media mentions

· Invitation to the virtual graduation of Afghan scholars



PRESENTING SPONSOR · $50,000

Funds twelve girls’ degrees

Two VIP tables for 16 guests total with premier placement

· Name recognition in the event title and promotional materials

· Logo on stage screen, step-and-repeat, event materials, signage and digital invitation

· Five tickets to the VIP screening of Rule Breakers

· Speaking opportunity at the gala

· Speaking opportunity at the virtual graduation of Afghan scholars

· Recognition in social media mentions

· Opportunity to include promotional materials in guest gift bags



SILENT AUCTION

The Degrees Beyond Borders Ball will feature a silent auction benefiting the Afghan Girls’ Higher Education Initiative.


Auction items coming soon.


CAN’T ATTEND?

You can still help make a degree possible.

Every contribution supports DCF’s work to create new pathways to higher education for Afghan girls.


Reserve Your Seat

Gala Tickets

$165 Single* (Limited Availability)
$300 Couple*


Includes cocktail hour, seated dinner, program, silent auction, DJ and dancing, and an exclusive gift bag.


After-Party Only

$50 Single
$90 Couple


Includes cocktails, DJ, and dancing.



CAN’T ATTEND?

You can still help make a degree possible.

Every contribution supports DCF’s work to create new pathways to higher education for Afghan girls.

The evening

Speakers and Entertainment


Roya Mahboob

CEO and Co-founder, Digital Citizen Fund


Dr. Hubert Benitez

President, Saint Peter’s University


Rina Amiri

Former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights


Closing DJ Set

Closing the evening with music by Ben Cronin of the Brooklyn-based duo Gilligan Moss.

MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM

A degree designed to cross borders.


Through DCF’s partnership with Saint Peter’s University, students will enroll in an Associate of Science in Business Management and study entirely online from Afghanistan.


Coursework includes entrepreneurship, finance, management and leadership, building skills that can create pathways to income and independence.


DCF, which has expanded access to STEAM education, digital and financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity for more than 28,000 students across Afghanistan since its founding in 2013, leads intake and support, helping students through enrollment, connectivity and completion.

Make your impact today


The Digital Citizen Fund (DCF) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and our federal tax identification number is 46-2740889. In exchange for your contribution, DCF has provided you with food and beverage of which we estimate the fair market value to be $75 per person. The amount of your contribution that is deductible for federal income tax purposes is limited to the excess of your contribution over the value of goods and services we provided to you.

Make your impact today


The Digital Citizen Fund (DCF) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and our federal tax identification number is 46-2740889. In exchange for your contribution, DCF has provided you with food and beverage of which we estimate the fair market value to be $75 per person. The amount of your contribution that is deductible for federal income tax purposes is limited to the excess of your contribution over the value of goods and services we provided to you.

Make your impact today


The Digital Citizen Fund (DCF) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and our federal tax identification number is 46-2740889. In exchange for your contribution, DCF has provided you with food and beverage of which we estimate the fair market value to be $75 per person. The amount of your contribution that is deductible for federal income tax purposes is limited to the excess of your contribution over the value of goods and services we provided to you.