Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com
The El Dorado Charities Auxiliary is set to host their 44th annual gala later this month, benefitting nonprofits around Butler County.
Established in 1981, El Dorado Charities Auxiliary has served Butler County with a simple mission: To invest in meaningful initiatives that make a lasting impact on the lives of those in our community. Essentially, the organization is an entire volunteer-run nonprofit that raises funds for other nonprofits.
Each year the annual gala brings together community members to have a fun night out while giving back. This year will be no different. There were 20 grant applications submitted to the Auxiliary this year, which they hope to fulfil entirely through funds raised at the gala. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Auxiliary had to cap what recipients could receive due to a lack of funds, in order to disperse them evenly.
The team now wants to lift cap by hosting a large gala. Four-year Board Member and volunteer Amber Herrman says having more members and collaboration can help make that success a reality.
“We really struggled as an organization with just memberships, just having board members and fulfilling our leadership roles during that time,” said Herrman. “I think there were maybe six or seven of us that hosted the entire gala. So, our goal this year was just to work on building back up, recruiting new people, and getting new minds into the organization. We love the diversity in our organization so that we can have all those different thoughts and wonderful ideas.”
Newly elected President Sydney Unruh says she’s taking her role in the organization seriously with new ideas to increase membership in order to give back to the community.
“I think we all just rallied the right people around,” said Unruh. “I think you just want people who are smarter than you around you, and that’s exactly what I did. I always tell people I’m not even very good at things; I’m just good at ideas.”
Aside from dispersing grants to each applicant, the organization also does charitable things throughout the year such as volunteering or helping families or individuals with immediate or emergency needs. The process has no requirements.
This year’s gala theme is keyed as Silk and Sage Soiree, packed with live entertainment, stories from recipients of Auxiliary grants, dinner and drinks, men’s and women’s raffles and silent and live auctions.
Among the raffle prizes are two gun raffles; One Stoeger STR-9 hand semi-auto 9mm and one Tristar Setter over/under 12ga shotgun, both donated by Michael Murphy & Sons.
Herrman wans to invite everyone to attend the gala to give without guilt.
“Everyone, come and have a great time,” said Herrman. “It’s spending your money with no guilt because this is all going back to the community.”
The gala raises about $20k-$30k each year with each grant applicant receiving $1,000. The gala will be hosted on October 18th at the Kansas Oil Museum’s Energy Education Center. The event will begin at 5:30pm with doors opening at 5pm. Tickets can be purchased online at the event Facebook page or by scanning the QR Code. Tickets will be available for purchase the night of at the door.
To join or contact the El Dorado Charities Auxiliary, email them at eldoradocharities@hotmail.com.
