THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR 2023 GALA A NIGHT TO REMEMBER!
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Thank you. We use those two words often, but they never quite seem to be enough.
As we think back on the Escape to Tuscany Gala, we are filled with so much gratitude that it’s hard to properly express it in words.
It’s been six years since we first held our Gala, and yet we are still humbled by the number of people who show up to support the Haven of Portage County. On October 7, 2023, we had a record 257 guests!
When we think back to 2018 and remember how unsure we felt, wondering how this community would respond to our first ever fundraiser of this kind – we are in awe. Because not only have you responded year after year, but you have done so with an unprecedented generosity.
This year, you helped us exceed our goal by raising more than $100,000 for the programs and services of the Haven! During our Fund a Need, you generously donated more than $5,300 toward the purchase of bed linens and a generator.
Whether you made a donation, attended the Gala or purchased an auction item, YOU helped us reach those goals and work toward our mission of helping people live their best lives. For this, we thank you.
While we celebrate the fundraising success of the evening, we must also give thanks to those behind the scenes. The months and days leading up to an event like this are filled with hours upon hours of hard work. It is in those days and hours that we once again recognize the true heart of the people who make this event a success.
We heard so many positive comments in the room that evening about the auction items we received, the performance of One Voice, Father Joe's prayer, the band Funkology, our emcee Terry Montz, auctioneer Mike Tontimonia, The Dancing Gelato Bike Rider and the overall ambiance of the ballroom. It was a truly beautiful evening. None of that would have been possible without the dedication of our Gala team.
From the beginning, we’ve had the support and commitment of our Gala Committee. They took time from their own busy schedules to attend meetings, seek donations and help guide us through another successful event. We thank each and every one of them. We would especially like to thank all of the Koval family members. Your dedication to this event and to your daughter-sister-mother is extraordinary.
We were also extremely fortunate to have Belinda, a former guest, share her personal story of why she came to the Haven, how she followed her plan and is now living the life she had wanted for so long.
These words of thanks don’t just come from the two of us – they come from all of the Haven guests, volunteers, and staff. Your support of the Gala and the Haven of Portage County means you believe in them – in their work, their lives and their futures.
Thank you and God Bless You,
Joyce Cavanaugh and Anne Marie Noble