It’s hard to believe that it has been two months since the very first Britt Foundation Christmas Gala. While the holidays have come and gone, a new year has begun,and life has sprinted onward, I haven’t stopped thinking about December 1 at the Gala 417 venue. There are very few days that have left a timeless memory in my mind; however, the Britt Foundation’s Christmas Gala was definitely one of them. The evening was designed to bring together two worlds – our loved ones, business owners, entrepreneurs and corporate gurus and those who serve in the U.S. military. Oftentimes, people don’t realize that military life and civilian life are two completely different worlds. It is easy to think that one is better than the other, but honestly, they are both important, and we can’t live without the other. One of the goals of the evening was to bring together these two different worlds.
The evening began with a beautiful happy hour- a time to gather together and talk with old friends, but also to meet new friends. It was radical to see so many people bumping into people they already knew. It was like “Surprise.” Following the happy hour, our M.C., Rebecca Brittingham ushered us into the dining hall where the rest of the festivities would take place. . Throughout the evening, she kept everyone engaged from the happy hour all the way to the live auction. Throughout the evening, attendees enjoyed a delicious meal, participated in a silent auction, enjoyed some fun raffles and bidded on some great live auction items.
When I think back over the evening, my heart feels so full and overwhelmingly happy. Honestly, for me, it was probably one of the most memorable nights of the year. Weeks leading up to the event, I honestly didn’t even know if the event was really going to happen. It seemed like such a big undertaking, and just not enough time to get everything done. And yet somehow, at the last minute, it all came together.
What encouraged me more than anything was the fact that so many people showed up to hear about the vision and future of the Britt Foundation. The heart behind the Britt Foundation is to provide more opportunities for people to spend time outside through the mentorship program, to encourage strong leadership through the scholarship program and to assist veterans as they are transitioning out of the military through our internship program.
Thank you to those who came out to the First Annual Britt Foundation Christmas Gala! Thank you for believing in the mission of the Britt Foundation. Thank you for investing in the future of this generation.
