Gala Recap: Virtual Fundraising the New Normal in 2020
Like almost everything else in 2020, our largest fundraiser of the year, A Chance To Play Gala, went virtual. Although we couldn’t experience this signature event with everyone in person, moving online did have its benefits. Over 550 people were able to tune in to our program on October 24th and we raised over $12,000 from the auction, sponsorships, and generous donations!
As supporters tuned in to our virtual program, they learned about the important role that adaptive sports play in the lives of individuals with physical disabilities. The evening started with CEO, Lisa Followay, sharing how far the organization has come and our vision for the future. Congressmen Anthony Gonzalez shared a special message about how sports played an important role in his life on and off the field. Athlete Ambassadors, Xavier from our Wildcats Sled Hockey Team, and Savannah from the Massillon Tigers Wheelchair Basketball Team, joined us to share what they love most about participating in adaptive sports and explained how your support impacts the athletes that we serve. Our virtual emcee, Amani Abraham, an Emmy-award winning journalist at WKYC-TV in Cleveland, added her own special touch to the program, helping us share our story.
Our 2020 Virtual Gala would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors:
Gold:
Bridgestone Americas
Silver:
NOOMA
Bronze:
Davey Tree – Dr. Baird and Family – SARTA
Other Sponsors:
Aultcare – Declaration CrossFit – Huntington Bank – Long, Cook and Samsa – Still Here – The K Company Inc. – Western Reserve Group – Wooster Brush – Wooster Glass – Wooster Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center
We appreciate everyone that took the time to join us for our Virtual Gala and helped make the night a success! If you missed our program, the recording is available on our Gala webpage. We can’t wait to see everyone back in person for our 2021 event!