Illuminate Hope Gala 2023
B the Light - Illuminate Hope Gala - A Glowing Success
11.21.23 - New Ulm, MN - The 2023 B the Light - Illuminate Hope Gala was a glowing success: supporting breast cancer survivors and their caregivers while celebrating and inspiring hope for all in attendance.
A guest list of 360 were greeted with a glass of pink champagne or a signature cocktail donated by Sweet Haven Tonics. Guests settled into an evening of pink carpets, decadent décor, and dinner from Gutes Essen. Forty-five of those guests were survivors, who received a complimentary seat, in addition to their plus 1, courtesy of a $10,000 executive sponsorship.
Top left-Group photo of Breast Cancer Survivors at the gala.
Top Right-The winners of one of the Hope Getaways-A Mother and her 2 daughters, all 3 breast cancer survivors.
Middle Left-Ladies having fun in the GlamBooth!
Middle Right-The moment a survivor finds out she is the winner of a Hope Getaway to Belize!
Bottom Left-The event space was beautifully decorated by Tammy from Blume Florals and Events by T&K.
Bottom Right-The J&R Schugel crew in front of the custom wrapped B the Light semi-truck!
To create that “pink carpet” feel, two professional photographers made their way around the venue, capturing the evening’s festivities and meaningful moments. View and download those photos here.
Lumos Solem Photos
Kamra Joosten Photos
Also in the house was Gray Duck Glam Booth and Up All Night Entertainment to create memories for all.
The silent auction featured over eighty items. The live auction, with auctioneer Matt Mages, included seven items ranging from a Mediterranean cooking class at Rush, to a prairie dog and dove hunt in Draper, South Dakota.
Other highlights of the evening included a mission-focused video featuring a young survivor who so generously shared her story. As a wife and mother of two young girls, Crystal Dubbelde of Mankato described her journey and the point at which she connected with B the Light. Crystal recounts, “My former co-worker, Jan has a space at the Well in New Ulm, alongside B the Light, and so when I was diagnosed and started sharing with people, she reached out and said, “You’ve got to reach out to my friend, Amber. She runs this organization called B the Light, and it’s really, really great.” … Crystal continued, “Finally, she [Jan] gave Amber my number and she reached out to me and invited me to a retreat, which was exactly what I needed.” She reflected.
This evening also boasted a few surprises. J&R Schugel featured their B the Light wrapped truck outside the venue's doors. This truck will travel the lower 48 states, spreading breast cancer awareness, along with the B the Light mantra, “Never give up HOPE!”.
Additionally, prior to the gala survivors were called to register for a Hope Getaway. B the Light is a sponsor of Hope Getaways. This program was created to help survivors by sending them on a healing journey to a destination of their choice, either during or following their treatment. Voted on by a panel of volunteers, the lucky recipient was a mother and two daughters, all currently battling breast cancer.
In addition, Aunt B’s family, for whom the organization was named, surprised the crowd and gave a Hope Getaway, to Belize, to another lucky survivor in attendance. But, that wasn't t the end of the surprises! Tim and Kristi Loose, owner of St. George’s Caye, incollaboration with Aunt B’s family, shined their generosity, and gave away one more trip to Belize.
The Illuminate Hope Gala raised approximately $130,000, which will go directly to local survivors within a fifty-mile radius of New Ulm, and will be distributed through six programs from Cooking Beyond Cancer, to Hope Huddles, to ReLight Retreats and Survival Fitness.
“It was such an inspiring night as we saw the community come together and support this cause. We are incredibly grateful and we are excited to see all of the light we can shine using these funds!” said Amber Melby, breast cancer survivor and founder of B the Light.
Save the date for the next gala, to be held on Friday, October 25 th, 2024. Check out the website at www.bthelightinfo.org for more information about the organization.