April 14, 2017
The first annual Kristin's Fund Gala was a crowd-pleaser which raised money and critical domestic violence awareness. With a sold out crowd of more than 500 hundred people and donations from 60 plus sponsors and auction donors, Kristin's Fund netted more than $105,000—far surpassing our initial goal of $75K. It was a heartwarming tribute to Kristin, an overwhelming expression of support and a testament to this community's readiness for change.
The evening's program included a poignant speech by author and activist, Tony Porter CEO, A Call to Men, and the presentation of the Kristin's Fund Leadership award to Gil Paladino, and the Next Generation awards to Taylor O'Halloran, Joseph Castellito and Jake Landry. The program ended with a rousing and impromptu call to action by Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks who encouraged the crowd to "Be the City of Change."
Throughout the evening, guests had a chance to meet and take photos with NFL players including Michael Bennett, Joel BItonio, Cleveland Browns, Michael Iupati, Arizona Cardinals, Stephen Gregory, San Diego Chargers and the legendary Floyd Little, Denver Broncos. Many happy auction bidders were thrilled with sports memorabilia and VIP tickets and experiences. One lucky winner went home with a 4 carat diamond bracelet generously donated by The Goldmine Jewelers.
As a result of a successful event and generous donors, Kristin's Fund is already generating critical awareness about domestic violence in our community and is positioned to create change. This quarter, the Oneida County Health Coalition has identified domestic violence as the health issue for which it will conduct an Oneida County Health Status Report. Data gathered will help us create a plan to prioritize prevention and education efforts that need attention and funding. We will update our website at www.kristinsfund.com as our 2017 plans emerge.
Thank you to our sponsors, our donors, and our guests for the beautiful evening and for helping us set the stage to reduce domestic violence and save lives.
