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First Light's 2024 Big Apple Gala will be held on April 25th at 6:00 PM. Click events for more information. 

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First Light News

GALA Remix is coming soon

First Light is making some exciting changes to its largest fundraising event of the year. It will be more fun than ever.

First Light has held an annual Gala for the past fifteen years to benefit the homeless women and children served at the only shelter in our community accessible to them 24 hours a day.

The 2014 First Light Gala Remix will be Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Old Car Heaven. Homeward Bound: Support the Journey has been chosen as the theme. “The new venue is perfect for the changes we are making,” said Marva May, the First Light Gala Remix Publicity Chair. “We are eliminating the sit-down dinner and working hard to make this an event where people will have more opportunity to get to know each other and to learn about the important work being done at First Light.” In addition to great food and music, there will be a silent auction and a number of fun and entertaining ways to support First Light while having a great time.

Some examples of "what's new" are:
Roving reporters;
ood stations including tapas and pie bars;
signature drink "First Light Sunrise;"
Spinning Around Town wheel with chances to win great gift cards;
tables for 4 and tables for 6 in addition to the corporate tables for 8;
no live auction;
photos given as a gift to attendees-taken in front of an old car by award winning photographer, Wynter Byrd;
jazz music by Downright;
decorative "suitcases" hand painted by First Light guests (symbolic of their journey toward home) with surprise gift cards inside;
a song performed by Martha's Trouble in tribute to our guests;
dancing away the rest of the night after the program.

First Light’s mission is to provide homeless women and children with hospitality in a safe and nurturing community, to encourage them to maintain dignity, to find hope, to seek opportunity, and to grow spiritually, thereby achieving their full potential.

First Light started as a makeshift shelter in the basement of a church when volunteers would not turn a blind eye to the suffering of women sleeping on the street. First Light became a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization in 1998 and, with the generous support of the community, renovated the old Granada Hotel at 2230 Fourth Avenue North to serve as an emergency shelter for homeless women and children. First Light has also developed permanent supportive housing programs for disabled and chronically homeless women, and a transitional supportive housing program for victims of domestic violence. Last year 967 homeless women and children found safety, hospitality and hope at First Light.

Volunteers continue to serve a vital role at First Light. A new member of the First Light board of directors, Marva May notes, “I am only one of more than 1,000 people who volunteer at First Light each year. The generosity and kindness of our community is inspiring.”

First Light is 501(C)3 nonprofit organization and gifts to First Light are tax deductible.

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