Night of Joy allows Catholic Charities the opportunity to offer gratitude to generous donors. Since 1943, Catholic Charities of Wichita has relied on individuals, families, foundations…
May 2, 2024
Night of Joy allows Catholic Charities the opportunity to offer gratitude to generous donors. Since 1943, Catholic Charities of Wichita has relied on individuals, families, foundations and business to be able to serve thousands of people each year and they are truly thankful for everyone who supports the work to share God’s love with the hungry, homeless, lonely, disabled and abused.
Catholic Charities honored five individuals for the contributions they made to share the mission of the organization during the 2024 Night of Joy, A Gratitude Gala by Catholic Charities. They were honored as part of a recognition program created to inspire both current and future donors alike to give their time and treasure.
Presented to an outstanding volunteer who embodies what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus for the people that Catholic Charities serves.
Anne is a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Doug for 54 years. They have five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren with two more on the way.
Presented to outstanding donors who faithfully support the mission of Catholic Charities through their recurring gifts.
Sharon and Dan are members of St. Thomas Aquinas parish. They have been married for 38 years and have one adult son.
Early in their relationship, Sharon and Dan became aware of God’s blessings bestowed upon them and giving back to others became a priority in their lives. After touring several of our ministries, they saw first-hand how great the need was to support Catholic Charities. St. Anthony Family Shelter, Harbor House and Adult Day Services were placed on their hearts as a way they could directly impact families and children.
Sharon and Dan believe their giving has been directed by the Holy Spirit and through prayer. They have also been inspired by the work of others who share their time, talent, and treasure in gratitude.
It is important to us to give back to others that need a helping hand and to share the blessings God had bestowed on us.”
Presented to outstanding donors who exemplify charity and Christian love of humankind demonstrated by giving to Catholic Charities for 20 or more years.
Wanda and Stan have been members of Sacred Heart in Colwich for over 50 years. They have five children and six grandchildren.
When the Gegens learned about Catholic Charities, they saw an organization that provided to families in need, supported abused women, fed the hungry, and provided counseling and senior care services…and their desire to support our agency grew.
Harbor House holds a particularly special place in their hearts as they themselves experienced the loss of a family member through domestic violence. For Wanda and Stan, providing a haven for those experiencing abuse serves a special need in our community.
Catholic Charities enables us to help in a small way and embody Matthew 25:40, ‘whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Night of Joy is Catholic Charities’ relatively new gratitude gala and serves as a culmination event to recognize those who donated the previous year. In just its second year in 2023, Night of Joy is quickly becoming one of the “must attend” annual galas in the Wichita community. More than 300 people gathered at Prairie Hill Vineyard in Colwich March 4 for an evening of food, entertainment, fellowship and giving. They enjoyed a plated dinner with wine pairings, bourbon crawl, entertainment by local artists and musicians, and a ceremonial transition of leadership from Wendy Glick to new executive director Traci Kennedy.
Catholic Charities created Night of Joy as a culmination event of a yearly giving cycle, allowing us to show gratitude to those who made significant contributions of treasure and time during that cycle. The evening also offers attendees an opportunity to renew their support for the organization. Night of Joy is not an event for which people can purchase tickets to attend; rather, attendance at Night of Joy is by invitation only. To receive an invitation and an opportunity to reserve a seat for this limited-seating event, a person must have donated to Catholic Charities a specific minimal dollar amount or higher during the previous calendar year.
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Learn more about the Faithful Servant Fund.