Lead(h)er is celebrating its eighth year of free mentorship for Quad Cities women by unveiling the 2024 Fuel the Fire Gala! Set for Thursday, Oct. 10.
The event, formerly known as the Birthday Party, is an annual celebration of the empowerment of over 1,100 women Lead(h)er has matched through its Strike a Match Mentorship program.
The community is invited to attend Fuel the Fire for an evening of celebration and empowerment. The gala will be from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Old Oaks Winery in Milan.
Lead(h)er sponsors, the Strike A Match Community and volunteers also are invited to celebrate the organization’s women.
At the gala, Lead(h)er will announce the 2024 Girl on Fire Award Winners. They include: Mentor of the Year, Mentee of the Year, and Found(h)er of the Year. The annual award recognizes women who go above and beyond to uplift women and inspire their mentee. The Mentee of the Year honors women who have achieved remarkable growth during their mentorship journey. To make an award nomination go here through Sept. 16.
- 2023 Mentor of the Year: Samantha Widener.
2023 Mentee of the Year: Emily Cummings.
2023 Found(h)er of the Year: LuAnn Haydon. - 2022 Mentor of the Year: Loredana Cooper.
2022 Mentee of the Year: Charla Wood.
2022 Found(h)er of the Year: Beth Grabin. - 2021 Mentor of the Year: Jazmin Newton.
2021 Mentee of the Year: Marcie Ordaz.
Found(h)er of the Year: Melissa Pepper. - 2020 Mentor of the Year: Cara Joiner.
2020 Mentee of the Year: Rumaisa Rahman Khawaja. - 2019 Mentor of the Year: Deanna Jensen-Valliere.
2019 Mentor of the Year: Lillie Johnson. - 2018 Mentor of the Year: Kirby Vyncke-Hughes.
2018 Mentee of the Year: Jasmine Bozeman.
Event schedule
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for attendees to enjoy music, drinks, heavy appetizer stations, Snap Wagon photo booth, a silent auction, shopping at the Brick & Motor Boutique, wine pull, networking and more. The program will begin at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $50 each or $500 per table of 10, and can be purchased at www.leadherqc.org/fuelthefire. Each ticket includes: a signature drink ticket, dinner, music, Snap Wagon photobooth access and entry to the main event: The 2024 Girl on Fire Awards.
All proceeds from the Gala will support Lead(h)er’s Strike A Match Mentorship Program.
Businesses interested in sponsoring the Fuel the Fire Gala should contact Hannah Howard, Lead(h)er’s executive director, at [email protected] for a list of sponsorship opportunities. For more information, visit www.leadherqc.org/fuelthefire or its social media.
