An Unforgettable Night: 2024 Hope Gala Recap

The 2024 Hope Gala proved to be an unforgettable night as we celebrated 40 years of women transforming their lives through Calvary Women’s Services’ programs! Each day, our community empowers more women as they work to regain their independence and end their homelessness for good. Your continued support is key to providing women with the tools they need to reach their goals!

This year’s event united over 400 devoted Calvary supporters to directly benefit the lives of women in Calvary’s housing, health, education, and employment programs. Together, we raised over $625,000 making it our most successful Hope Gala to date!

Calvary was also honored to welcome Anthony G. Brown, Maryland Attorney General, and Kenyan McDuffie, At-Large DC Councilmember, as Special Guests of the 2024 Hope Gala.

A highlight of the evening was Vanieta, a former resident at Calvary, sharing her story of transformation. She recounted how our programs were able to meet her needs and empower her to regain her independence:

“[At Calvary,] I stayed patient. I worked on saving money. I continued working. I took classes and regained the confidence I had lost. I learned how to pay attention to my finances in a different way and stayed focused on my goals with the help of staff and the other women around me.”

“I am now in my own apartment, paying my own bills and making my own decisions. I even got to decorate my own home! I am so appreciative of my time at Calvary and know that I am a stronger and better woman because of my experiences and the support I received.”

Calvary also debuted its newest short film, Path to Hope, during the event. This video showcased three clients’ journeys through our programs. You can watch the video here.

Shawn Yancy, renowned Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist, philanthropist, and artist, was recognized as the 2024 Hope Award Recipient for her philanthropic spirit, unwavering confidence, and efforts to amplify women’s voices. She shared inspiring words on the power of hope, saying, “[Hope] is the beacon that guides us through the darkest of nights and fuels our determination to persevere.”

“I endeavor to infuse the world with hope by using my voice and my platforms to serve women and children in need and advocate for those who don’t know how to or can’t advocate for themselves,” Shawn concluded.

Fatima Bah, Candace McLaren Lanham, Traci Mitchell, and Caitlin Sickles also shared remarks about Calvary’s 40 years of impact.

“At Calvary, women find the hope that they’ve lost. In our daily work, and tonight in this room, women are seen – and their voices are heard,” shared Kris Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Calvary Women’s Services. “And over 40 years, thousands of women have transformed their lives and built brighter futures. With safe housing and holistic care, women work toward their own goals and end their homelessness. Your support makes all this possible.” 

We concluded the evening by recognizing Aura Cacia Positive Change Project with the 2024 Corporate Partner of the Year Award. Laura Kuykendall, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Frontier Co-Op accepted the award on the company’s behalf. In her remarks, she shared how Calvary’s mission embodies the spirit of the Positive Change Project:

“The Aura Cacia Positive Change Project has been working with Calvary Women’s Services since 2020, and every year we’ve continued to be impressed with the remarkable strength and dedication of their team… Your work gives us hope, and your dedication to making positive change inspires us every day.”

If you missed the event, there’s still time to make an impact on the lives of women ending their homelessness for good by making a donation to the 2024 Hope Gala. You can also view previews of pictures from the event here.