An Evening of Hope & Restoration

Semi-formal attire

Join us for a meaningful and memorable evening as we come together to celebrate hope, healing, and new beginnings while supporting the women of Rachel’s Refuge.

5:30–6:00 PM | VIP Experience

Our VIP guests are invited to begin the evening with an intimate pre-event experience featuring hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, and a special musical performance by Julia Golden.

6:00 PM | Welcome & Guest Arrival

Doors open as we welcome friends, supporters, and community partners for an evening dedicated to changing lives and restoring hope.

6:30 PM | Dinner

Enjoy dinner as we gather around a shared purpose—helping survivors of human trafficking find a safe place to heal, grow, and move toward a hopeful future.

Stories of Hope

Our evening program will feature our Master of Ceremonies Keith Eldridge, and special guest speaker Susan Young, the mother of a human trafficking survivor. Susan will join us in person to share her family’s powerful story of their journey through human trafficking and its impact on their family.

Guests will also have the privilege of hearing heartfelt messages from residents of Rachel’s Refuge, offering a meaningful glimpse into their journeys of healing and the hope they are finding for the future.

Raffle & Live Auction

The evening continues with the announcement of our raffle winners followed by an exciting live auction, with opportunities to take home something special while making an even greater impact in the lives of survivors.

8:30 PM | Evening Concludes

We’ll close our evening grateful for a community that believes in the power of hope and the possibility of a new beginning.

Come be part of the Journey of Hope and help make restoration possible.

STAY TUNED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR GALA RAFFLE ITEMS AND THE CHANCE TO PURCHASE RAFFLE TICKETS EVEN IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND!  LIVE AUCTION ITEMS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

At Changing Destinies Ministry, we believe every woman deserves the opportunity to rebuild her life with dignity, hope, and compassionate support. Through Rachel’s Refuge, our long-term residential program, women who have survived trafficking and exploitation are finding safety, stability, and a renewed vision for their future.

This past year has been one of meaningful growth. We continue providing safe shelter, nourishing meals, trauma-informed care, life-skills development, and individualized support for each resident while strengthening community partnerships and expanding prevention and awareness efforts. We are also prayerfully exploring the next phase of our program - transitional housing to help bridge the gap between residential care and independent living.

We invite you to join us for our 2026 Journey of Hope Gala on Friday, November 6, 2026, at Pinehurst Country Club. This special evening will bring together community leaders, businesses, churches, and friends for a meaningful night of fellowship, stories of impact, and generosity in support of the women we serve.

Proceeds from the Gala support:

• Safe housing and daily operations at Rachel’s Refuge
• Survivor programming and restorative services
• Staff training and professional development
• Community awareness and prevention initiatives

You can partner with us by becoming an event sponsor or by donating a gift certificate, merchandise, or service for our silent or live auction. Sponsors and auction donors will be recognized in the event program and select promotional materials. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law (Tax ID: 81-0771902).

To participate, please submit your sponsorship by October 25, 2026, through our website or by contacting Kim Lyons or Renee Cassidy at the information below. For auction donations, please contact Kim Lyons to arrange pickup.

We would be honored to have you stand with us at this year’s Journey of Hope. Together, we are investing in restoration, strengthening our community, and changing destinies—one life at a time. 

Thank you for your consideration and continued support.

With sincere gratitude,

Renee Cassidy, M.Ed., CEC, Executive Director

changingdestiniesministry@gmail.com | 401-236-4603

Kim Lyons, Director of Communications

cdm.kimlyons@gmail.com | 864-631-9550

"Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at (888) 830-4989. The license is not an endorsement by the State".