It was a red carpet affair last night at the Hope County Club as United Way (UW) of Hempstead County held its first annual gala and raised funds for local charities. The UW Gala provided guests with food, entertainment, and prizes, in addition to glitz and glamour as they danced the night away or mingled over hors d'oeuvres catered by Sheba's. The Red Carpet Raffle had participants eager to hear the winning numbers since prizes consisted of a wide range of items like air pods, a Blackstone grill, gourmet foods, local retreats, fine jewelry, Razorback tickets, a 55-inch widescreen TV, and much more, all made possible by the gracious donations of many individuals and businesses in the community.
Fun, food, and fellowship to support a worthy cause wasn't the only objective of the night as UW representatives presented awards to those who have contributed notably and wholeheartedly to United Way over the last year. Person of the Year was awarded to Michael Winarta of New Millennium and Agency of the Year went to Charitable Christian Medical Clinic. Volunteer of the Year went to Paul Henley, and this award will hereafter be named the Paul Henley Volunteer of the Year Award in honor of his 50 years of service.
Gala Chair Amanda Lance was also given an award for her work in planning the first UW Gala. UW Executive Director Gina Perkins said Lance had been working tirelessly since February, when the idea of the gala first came about, and that UW wanted to thank her for her dedication and effort to the cause.
Lance said she was surprised about the award, but so honored. "Events like these don't happen with just one person; it takes a village," Lance said. "The idea behind the gala was to bring a fundraiser to Hope which highlights an important organization like United Way, which does so much for our county, but in an exciting and memorable way that will have people looking forward to the next year's gala. Who doesn't love an adult prom?" Lance said she couldn't be prouder of how the event turned out and how much effort the planning committee put into making it a great night for all to enjoy.
Perkins seconded the notion, saying she thought the UW Gala was amazing and hopes the event was able to let more people know about the organization. "We really wanted to bring awareness to more local residents regarding United Way and the work we do in our area," Perkins said. "Plus, we want people to know where their contributions are going. Events like these shine a spotlight on these organizations that help so many people, especially our Charitable Christian Medical Clinic, our Agency of the Year."
Whether taking a turn at the automated photo booth for instant pics, listening to the vocal stylings of the Shadow Singers, watching an artist at work, or just connecting with fellow members of the community during a night out, gala guests had plenty of entertainment options to choose from. Many appeared to enjoy the night's festivities, and when numerous participants were asked if they would return for next year's UW Gala, every answer was a resounding, "Yes!"
To learn more about United Way of Hempstead County, visit the United Way website or Facebook page.
