On Saturday evening, March 7, the ballroom at the elegant Townsend Hotel filled with energy, laughter, and a shared belief in the power of mentoring. Our 18th Annual Corks & Forks gala brought together generous supporters, dedicated volunteers, and passionate champions of students for an unforgettable night.
The evening began with a lively wine tasting reception featuring outstanding domestic and international wines, followed by a gourmet dinner and an exciting auction led by special guest Les Gold from the hit TV series Hardcore Pawn.
During the program, guests heard a powerful story from Winning Futures alumna Ryen Dann. She spoke about feeling lost and unsure about her future in high school until she joined our mentoring program. With the support of our mentors who believed in her potential, she built confidence, developed professional skills, and stayed focused on her goals. Despite setbacks and the challenge of balancing school, work, and caring for her grandmother, she persevered and is now a registered nurse.
Reflecting on her journey, Ryen told the audience, “Winning Futures gave me hope, direction, and a belief in myself that I will carry forever.”
By the end of the night, the room erupted in applause as we announced the incredible result – more than $825,000 raised to support students in our Workforce Prep Mentoring Program.
This success would not have been possible without the leadership of our event chair, Shilpan Amin, Senior Vice President and Global Chief Procurement and Supply Chain Officer at General Motors. We are also grateful to the many automotive executives who joined us and continue to champion our mission, including Liz Door, Pete Hockey, Kimberly Huot, Sham Kunjur, Jeff Morrison, Scott Thiele, Teresa Thiele, and Kristin Toth.
“Every student deserves someone who believes in them and helps them see what’s possible,” said Kristina Marshall, President and CEO. “Thanks to the generosity shown by our guests, our students will continue receiving the mentoring, guidance, and encouragement they need to pursue their goals and build meaningful careers.”
Learn more about our Workforce Prep Mentoring Program and what it means to be a volunteer Career Mentor.