A Night With the Stars: The Munday Foundation’s $50,000 Gift Lights Up Gravesend

GYG (3)

On Friday, 7 March 2025, the curtain rose at The Woodville in Gravesend for A Night With the Stars, a sold-out gala that united award-winning West End talent with the inspiring young performers of Gifted Young Gravesham (GYG). By the time the final note echoed through the theatre, the evening had raised more than £7,000 in ticket sales and, thanks to The Munday Foundation, delivered an additional £50,000 that will safeguard GYG’s life-changing youth services.

Celebrating talent, community, and opportunity

A Night With the Stars was exactly that: a sparkling lineup of stage and screen favorites who donated their time to support Gravesend’s next generation. Among them were:

  • Adam Pearce (Les Misérables, Sweeney Todd)

  • Eddie Elliott (The Lion King, Motown the Musical)

  • Jenna Boyd (Come From Away, Les Misérables film)

  • Daniel Boys (Rent, Spamalot)

  • Verity Rushworth (Emmerdale, Kinky Boots)

  • Leanne Jones—Olivier Award winner for Hairspray

  • Charlie Fights, Thomas Jay, and guitarist Nick Woods

  • Hosted by the incomparable Mama G

Their hit-laden setlist showcased songs from Les Misérables, Hairspray, The Lion King, and more, while GYG’s own singers and dancers brought the house down alongside their heroes.

he Munday Foundation’s $50,000 Gift Lights Up Gravesend

A gift from Gravesend to the world

Midway through the show, GYG welcomed home one of its own: Christopher B. Munday, co-founder of The Munday Foundation and Chief Executive of Texas-based 2020 Companies. Raised in Northfleet and adopted into a council-estate family, Chris built an international career leading paper and apparel companies before turning his focus to philanthropy with his wife, Louise. Their foundation supports youth-focused charities across the United States; GYG is its very first UK recipient.

Taking the stage to announce the donation, Chris shared:

“Listening to each performer’s journey reminded Louise and me of our own roots here in Gravesend. Young people deserve every chance to discover their potential, and GYG has proved it can make that happen. We’re honored to help keep the doors open for the next generation.”

Why this donation matters

Kent County Council’s 2023 funding changes left many local youth clubs searching for new income streams. For GYG, an organisation that spends roughly £200,000 a year on qualified youth workers, mental-health specialists, and creative coaches, the gap threatened to curtail vital programs.

Jackie Coupar, who has guided GYG for 17 years, explained the impact:

“We exist to help young people find their gift—whether they need a safe place to talk through grief, build confidence, learn job skills, or simply make friends. The Munday Foundation’s support is a lifeline that lets us keep saying ‘yes’ when young people walk through our doors.”

About Gifted Young Gravesham

Based at The Grand Healthy Living Centre, GYG meets young people where they are—emotionally, socially, and creatively. The program pairs qualified youth workers with professionals from the arts, health, and wellness sectors to offer everything from drama and music workshops to counselling and life-skills training. Participants often describe GYG as both life-changing and life-saving.

Learn more: wearegyg.co.uk

About The Louise & Christopher B. Munday Foundation

The Louise & Christopher B. Munday Foundation promotes and supports the continued education and development of new skills for individuals in diverse communities, especially historically underrepresented groups. 2020 Companies and The Foundation will continue to seek ways to support and strengthen educational opportunities globally.

About 2020 Companies

Headquartered in Southlake, TX; 2020 Companies is a retail sales, merchandising, and experiential marketing agency. Our mission is to deliver innovative turnkey solutions that enhance retail sales, create memorable experiences, develop effective marketing strategies, fulfill merchandising needs, build brand awareness and loyalty, and provide nationwide virtual and in-person training and education for both store employees and consumers. With a vast network encompassing over 400,000 retail doors across the United States, we proudly collaborate with some of the most renowned global electronics and consumer goods brands. 2020 Companies has been listed on Glassdoor's Best Places to Work in 2023 and 2024.