Press Release: Gala of Hope Receives Record Total at 2024 Event

Beavercreek, OH, August 2, 2024

Gala of Hope Foundation announces a record $2 million generously given through its July 20 event held at Dayton Masonic Center, coordinated by event chairperson, Patti Schear, one of Dayton’s significant community leaders. Its last event took place in July 2022 when it raised $1.73 million.

“Gala of Hope Foundation was overwhelmed by a wave of generosity in a single event that is truly extraordinary,” shared Tiffany Kellner, board president. “This was a celebration of our 10th anniversary, and we have experienced a record amount with each event since 2014, and humbled each time, but this was amazing. This reinforces that cancer really does touch everyone in some way and the Dayton community comes together to do something significant about it. We are humbled at their confidence in us and their desire to care for cancer patients like no other community.”

The 2024 Gala brought together 68 sponsors from across the region, with almost 500 of their guests attending the event. “The Gala was founded on the model of asking sponsors to invite guests, those they believe should hear about Gala of Hope and join them in supporting our mission,” explained Jeff Brock, Executive Director. “Our sponsors propel us with their generosity, and they encourage their guests to also support Gala generously. Everyone is very clear about why they are coming to this event, one like no other in the region. Every dollar given, each important no matter the amount, was clearly given with a cancer patient or survivor in mind, and Gala making a difference for someone just like them.”

“The emphasis on gifts staying local and making a difference here gives more reason for our supporters to be generous,” continued Kellner. “They can see firsthand how we are investing in treatment, research, and aid to patients. In fact, they may see it firsthand because of a cancer patient they know. In the last 10 years, over 91,000 individuals in the Greater Dayton community have been diagnosed with cancer. These numbers, however, underscore the importance of our mission and the vital need for continued support and innovation in cancer care. We touched over 30,000 through our programs and aid totaling almost $6 million in those 10 years.”

“This outpouring will support current initiatives in the region focused on enhanced treatment, direct patient aid, and local research. They also allow us to consider new opportunities to do more, even to help answer some of the region’s greatest challenges for cancer patients,” concluded Brock. “There is so much more to do. Yes, we want fewer hearing those words, ‘you have cancer,’ but even more so, we want them hearing the better words, ‘you have hope,’ sending cancer into the sunset.”