Presented by Friendship Bridge

2026 Stay-at-Home Building Bridges Gala: Where Ripples Begin

Registration for this year's Gala has now ended. Thank you for your interest!

Date & Time

Saturday, 04/18/2026
6:00pm MDT - 8:00pm MDT
Add to Calendar 04/18/2026 06:00:00 PM 04/18/2026 08:00:00 PM America/Denver 2026 Stay-at-Home Building Bridges Gala: Where Ripples Begin At this special annual event, you’ll get access to new video content about our programs, a front seat to our online auction, and exclusive handmade artisan items. Come together with supporters all over the world to celebrate the empowerment of women in Guatemala! This year’s Gala is themed Where Ripples Begin, inspired by the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, "Give to Gain." With this theme, we seek to honor the way opportunities, when placed in the hands of women entrepreneurs, set countless possibilities in motion.  As the women we serve gain access to resources and knowledge, the effects ripple outward, strengthening families, friendships, neighbors, and entire communities. Like ripples on the water, our clients' progress expands beyond their point of origin and gathers strength over time, gaining momentum and forming waves of unstoppable change that endure long after they have begun. This year’s virtual Gala will feature inspiring videos, a selection of exclusive artisan products from our Handmade by Friendship Bridge® clients, and an exciting online auction open to all. We invite you to join us in celebrating the transformative power of the clients we serve. As an international community, Friendship Bridge offers this Gala as a way to bring together individuals in their local community while simultaneously connecting people around the world. By attending our gala, you are supporting Friendship Bridge and our mission to create opportunities that empower Guatemalan women to build a better life through microcredit, health services, and education.

Price

$75 - $125

Savor a night at home while supporting Friendship Bridge’s mission at our 2026 Stay-At-Home Building Bridges Gala!

At this special annual event, you’ll get access to new video content about our programs, a front seat to our online auction, and exclusive handmade artisan items. Come together with supporters all over the world to celebrate the empowerment of women in Guatemala!

This year’s Gala is themed Where Ripples Begin, inspired by the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, "Give to Gain." With this theme, we seek to honor the way opportunities, when placed in the hands of women entrepreneurs, set countless possibilities in motion. 

As the women we serve gain access to resources and knowledge, the effects ripple outward, strengthening families, friendships, neighbors, and entire communities. Like ripples on the water, our clients' progress expands beyond their point of origin and gathers strength over time, gaining momentum and forming waves of unstoppable change that endure long after they have begun.

This year’s virtual Gala will feature inspiring videos, a selection of exclusive artisan products from our Handmade by Friendship Bridge® clients, and an exciting online auction open to all. We invite you to join us in celebrating the transformative power of the clients we serve.

As an international community, Friendship Bridge offers this Gala as a way to bring together individuals in their local community while simultaneously connecting people around the world. By attending our gala, you are supporting Friendship Bridge and our mission to create opportunities that empower Guatemalan women to build a better life through microcredit, health services, and education.

Savor a night at home while supporting Friendship Bridge’s mission at our 2026 Stay-At-Home Building Bridges Gala!

At this special annual event, you’ll get access to new video content about our programs, a front seat to our online auction, and exclusive handmade artisan items. Come together with supporters all over the world to celebrate the empowerment of women in Guatemala!

This year’s Gala is themed Where Ripples Begin, inspired by the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, "Give to Gain." With this theme, we seek to honor the way opportunities, when placed in the hands of women entrepreneurs, set countless possibilities in motion. 

As the women we serve gain access to resources and knowledge, the effects ripple outward, strengthening families, friendships, neighbors, and entire communities. Like ripples on the water, our clients' progress expands beyond their point of origin and gathers strength over time, gaining momentum and forming waves of unstoppable change that endure long after they have begun.

This year’s virtual Gala will feature inspiring videos, a selection of exclusive artisan products from our Handmade by Friendship Bridge® clients, and an exciting online auction open to all. We invite you to join us in celebrating the transformative power of the clients we serve.

As an international community, Friendship Bridge offers this Gala as a way to bring together individuals in their local community while simultaneously connecting people around the world. By attending our gala, you are supporting Friendship Bridge and our mission to create opportunities that empower Guatemalan women to build a better life through microcredit, health services, and education.

The Silent Auction is now LIVE!

Now open! Click here to go to the Silent Auction!

Bid on exciting opportunities, including luxury stays, gift baskets, home decor, classes, event tickets, and more, all while supporting Friendship Bridge's mission of empowering Guatemalan women! The auction will remain open until April 18 at 8PM MT.

Please note that your auction registration is independent from your Gala ticket purchase. If you've purchased a Gala ticket, you will still need to register an auction account.

Browse the Silent Auction »

Date & Time

Saturday, 04/18/2026
6:00pm MDT - 8:00pm MDT
Add to Calendar 04/18/2026 06:00:00 PM 04/18/2026 08:00:00 PM America/Denver 2026 Stay-at-Home Building Bridges Gala: Where Ripples Begin At this special annual event, you’ll get access to new video content about our programs, a front seat to our online auction, and exclusive handmade artisan items. Come together with supporters all over the world to celebrate the empowerment of women in Guatemala! This year’s Gala is themed Where Ripples Begin, inspired by the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, "Give to Gain." With this theme, we seek to honor the way opportunities, when placed in the hands of women entrepreneurs, set countless possibilities in motion.  As the women we serve gain access to resources and knowledge, the effects ripple outward, strengthening families, friendships, neighbors, and entire communities. Like ripples on the water, our clients' progress expands beyond their point of origin and gathers strength over time, gaining momentum and forming waves of unstoppable change that endure long after they have begun. This year’s virtual Gala will feature inspiring videos, a selection of exclusive artisan products from our Handmade by Friendship Bridge® clients, and an exciting online auction open to all. We invite you to join us in celebrating the transformative power of the clients we serve. As an international community, Friendship Bridge offers this Gala as a way to bring together individuals in their local community while simultaneously connecting people around the world. By attending our gala, you are supporting Friendship Bridge and our mission to create opportunities that empower Guatemalan women to build a better life through microcredit, health services, and education.

Price

$75 - $125

Your ticket gives you access to:

Gala Ticket $75
Textile refrigerator magnet
  • Includes a 3Ă—3" textile refrigerator magnet, handmade by Martha Carmen
  • $64 of each ticket is tax deductible
VIP Gala Ticket $125
Textile refrigerator magnet Embroidered water bottle carrier
  • Includes an embroidered water bottle carrier handmade by Jacinta, and a 3Ă—3" textile refrigerator magnet handmade by Martha Carmen
  • $99 of each ticket is tax deductible

An In-Depth Look at Where Change Begins

Be the first to watch an extended documentary-style video focused on Trust Banks and our Non-Formal Education program: spaces where women come together to learn, share experiences, and strengthen one another. These experiences create momentum that reaches beyond the meeting space, with effects felt throughout entire communities.
 

Artisan-Made Gifts

All ticketholders receive keepsakes handmade by the artisans in our Handmade by Friendship Bridge® program. A vibrant water bottle carrier and textile magnets have been handmade for this year's gala by artisan clients Jacinta and Martha Carmen.
 

Access our Exciting Online Auction

Find something you love in our online auction, featuring unique items and experiences like resort stays, gourmet baskets, sports tickets, and more! The auction opens Friday, April 10 at 8am MT and closes Saturday, April 18 at 8pm MT.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Friendship Bridge is deeply grateful to the following supporters for sponsoring the 2026 Stay-at-Home Building Bridges Gala:
Platino Sponsors

 

Architectural Concepts / Door Collection

Avani, LLC

 

Plata Sponsors
GRF CPAs & Advisors Huff Insurance & Financial Services: Trusted guide for your future US Bank

Susie & John Miller

Robert Stroheker & Betsy Thompson

Betty Chambers Toguchi & Roger Toguchi

 

Amiga Sponsors

RBC: Atlas Investment Group of the Rockies

About Friendship Bridge

Friendship Bridge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise with a mission to create opportunities that empower Guatemalan women to build a better life. Established in 1990 and headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, Friendship Bridge operates 13 branch offices in Guatemala and provides a suite of products and services including microcredit, Non-Formal Education, and access to culturally-appropriate healthcare. Clients are 100% women, primarily Indigenous Maya, and live in rural communities with some of the highest poverty levels worldwide. Annually, Friendship Bridge supports over 37,000 women and through our programming, we are changing how clients see, respond to, and overcome the protracted issues of poverty for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Who We Are »     What We Do »