Hope can be magical, and there was certainly plenty of both inside the Emporia State University Memorial Union Friday night.
The union’s Webb Hall played host to the 2025 SOS Hope-A-Palooza, the agency’s largest annual fundraiser. The evening included a live and silent auction, fund the need, dinner and drinks with right around 100 SOS staff and supporters on hand for the event.
All proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards all four of SOS’s programs, which provide support to victims of domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, abuse and neglect. The evening’s entertainment was provided by nationally renowned magician Ran’D Shine, who said it was an honor to be invited to perform for such an important cause.
Shine also says he feels magic was a fitting addition to the evening’s proceedings, calling the work of SOS and its staff a form of magic for those who may be facing their darkest days.
Following his dazzling performance and the generosity shown by those in attendance, KVOE News asked SOS Executive Director Mickey Edwards if it would be cliche to call the evening “Magical?”
In addition to raising needed funds for the agency, Edwards says Hope-A-Palooza is also an incredible opportunity to shine a spotlight on the SOS staff who work tirelessly to better the lives of others.
Hope-A-Palooza follows other significant fundraising successes for SOS in recent weeks, including the culmination of three years of grants awarded by Michelin totaling more than $270,000, with the final amount of $77,000 being announced the prior week.
The evening also included the recognition of SOS’s annual award winners, including Coffey County Victim/Witness Coordinator Janine Wagner as Agency Partner of the Year, Kiwanis Club of Emporia as Volunteer of the Year, Kara Thomas as CASA Volunteer of the Year, Randy Guyer as Donor of the Year and Phi Delta Theta as the SOS Legacy Award winner.
Fundraising totals from Hope-A-Palooza are currently pending. For a short video of Shine’s sleight of hand skills visit KVOE’s YouTube channel.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE NewsÂ
