Light of Hope Gala of Hope 2017, Minneapolis Marriott Southwest

We always look forward to the Light of Hope Gala, but this year was extra special for us because we were the MCs! We were shaking in our heels leading up to the day, but it was so much fun! If you aren't familiar with this Minnesota-based non-profit organization, "Light of Hope is a home and school that provides refuge, restoration, and redirection for the abandoned, impoverished, or abused girls in Kenya. They provide shelter, quality education, training, and counseling in a supportive Christian family environment in order to enable them to live independently and emerge as leaders to the community."

The annual fundraising gala brings an incredible variety of people together to celebrate the journey & success of this impactful organization.

The decor each year is, of course, a highlight for us. Because the organization supports education in Kenya, Africa, we wanted to weave in some understated African inspiration. Using gorgeous neutral taupe as our anchor, we planned for pops of greenery from palm leaves with subtle additions of orange protea and fuschia stock. It was sophisticated, organic and elegant- while also being cost effective (which is always important for non-profit organizations).

All of the food was displayed beautifully. Catering efforts often go unphotographed, so we were thrilled that Kelly was able to capture all of the various artisan's creativity! From the delicious plated meal to the scrumptious chocolates and flavorful popcorn, the menu was a highlight of the evening!

In addition to all the fun, pretty and yummy things, the event had 360 guests in attendance and successfully raised over $165,000 for the 95 girls that call Light of Hope home!

We felt so honored to be involved in the planning & execution of this event and can't wait to see what next year has in store!

Be sure to check out our blog post about last year's gala here. And to read more about Light of Hope's mission, be sure to check out their site here.