Individuals in attendance for SOS’s annual Hope-A-Palooza fundraiser took a trip through time back to the prom Friday.
This is because the theme for the seventh annual Hope-A-Palooza Friday evening was “Prom Through the Years.” The evening saw residents and advocates dressed in their best and brightest attire to support SOS’s mission of empowering and advocating for those affected by sexual and domestic violence, child abuse and neglect.
The evening included dancing, raffle drawings, a live and silent auction, prom photos and even the crowning of a king and queen. All of these efforts generated a total just over $37,000 for SOS, which according to Director Connie Cahoone, will help “fill the gaps” for the organization.
Cahoone says while the evening is a time for fun, it also serves as a time of reflection and celebration.
In attendance for the evening, along with hundreds of local residents, were Flint Hills Technical College President Dr. Dean Hollenbeck and wife Julie who served as this year’s honorary chairs. Dr. Hollenbeck is a former board member for SOS and says he is honored to serve in the position and help to gain support for all those who have been affected by domestic violence.
Following a pasta dinner, SOS announced their annual award winners which included recognizing SOS founder Susan Moran with the first ever SOS Legacy Award.
Fellow award recipients included
Community Partner of the Year: Plumbing by Spellman
Volunteer of the Year: Shanna Eggers
Donor of the Year: Warren Harshman
After the awards were handed out those in attendance were able to hear personal testimonials, and even some musical performances, by domestic violence survivors.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
{gallery}Hope-A-Palooza 2019{/gallery}
