On Friday, April 10, our community will gather at Chevy Chase Country Club for Where Dreams Begin: Igniting the Spark That Turns Hope into Possibility, and this night is about so much more than a gala.
It’s about what happens when a child who has experienced abuse, neglect, or crisis finally feels safe. It’s about the moment fear begins to fade, the moment confidence begins to grow, and the moment a dream feels possible again.
At Shelter Youth & Family Services, we see those moments every day.
What Happens When a Child Feels Safe
When children feel safe and believed in, everything changes. When a teen in our emergency home begins to trust again, a foster child finds stability in the middle of chaos, or a parent receives support before a crisis becomes irreversible, hope becomes the spark. And that spark is where dreams begin.
But those moments don’t happen by accident. They happen because a community shows up.
Why This Gala Matters
Our annual gala is one of the most significant ways our community fuels that work.
“Where Dreams Begin is more than an event, it is a reflection of what happens every day at Shelter. When a child feels safe, supported, and believed in, that is the moment everything changes. This gala ensures we can continue creating those moments for children and families who need us most,” said Carina H. Santa Maria, CEO of Shelter Youth & Family Services. She continued, “As our community’s needs continue to grow, so must our response. Our 2026 gala fuels not just immediate safety, but long-term stability and opportunity for children and families across our region.”
When you attend Where Dreams Begin, you are helping:
- Provide emergency housing for children removed from unsafe situations
- Deliver trauma-informed therapy and case management
- Advocate for child safety across our region
This is not just a night of celebration.
It is a night that directly impacts children who need stability right now.
Every ticket purchased.
Every table filled.
Every sponsorship secured.
Every paddle raised.
It all becomes tangible support for youth and families in crisis.
Joy With Purpose
Yes, the evening will be joyful.
We’ll gather for an unforgettable performance by Felix & Fingers Dueling Pianos, filling the room with energy, laughter, and connection. Amazing silent and live auction opportunities will be available, while our amazing emcee, NBC 5 Chicago’s Regina Waldroup returns to usher us through the evening and help present our annual Buckholz Award to Cook County Sheriff Dart for his admirable work in the fight against human trafficking.
Friends and supporters will come together around a shared belief: that every child deserves a safe place to dream. This night represents a collective commitment to protecting children, strengthening families, and transforming communities.
Shelter’s Board President, Lindsay Tintera, shared, “This evening brings together joy and purpose in a powerful way. It is inspiring to see our community gather not just to celebrate, but to actively shape brighter futures for children and families.”
The Ripple Effect of Showing Up
When you attend this gala, you are not simply attending an event.
You are:
- Ensuring a child has a safe bed tonight.
- Supporting a family before crisis turns into long-term trauma.
- Investing in prevention so fewer children ever enter emergency care.
The impact extends far beyond April 10. The support generated that evening sustains programs for months to come. It allows us to plan responsibly, respond quickly, and grow intentionally to meet increasing community needs.
Tintera shares, “Our role as a Board is to safeguard the future of this organization and the families it supports. This gala is one of the most meaningful ways our community invests in that future.”
Where dreams begin is not a metaphor.
It is the real-life moment when a child realizes:
“I am safe here.”
“I matter.”
“My future can be different.”
Be in the Room Where It Begins
One month may feel like plenty of time, but this night will be here before we know it.
We invite you to be in the room where hope ignites.
To bring a friend.
To fill a table.
To raise a paddle.
To be part of something bigger than a single evening.
Because when a community gathers with joy and purpose, sparks turn into possibility.
And possibility turns into futures.
Join us on Friday, April 10, at Chevy Chase Country Club.
🎟 Tickets, tables, and sponsorships are available now at: https://www.shelter-inc.org/WhereDreamsBegin/
Let’s ignite the spark—together.
