2025 is a year of exciting change for the metro Atlanta nonprofit, Rainbow Village. Its ‘Building Homes, Building Hope” Capital Campaign to more than double the number of families it can serve is underway. It plans to launch construction on two new apartment buildings to accommodate 36 additional families before year-end. And, it has taken a gamble on its largest fundraiser of the year. Instead of asking its most fervent supporters to don tuxedos and ballgowns for its “We Are Family” Benefit Gala this Fall – historically hosted at the prestigious Atlanta Athletic Club, the organization dedicated to bringing Help, Hope, Housing, and Healing to families experiencing homelessness will give the annual event an exciting new theme, venue, and dress code. With plans to host its Tailgate to Tackle Homelessness Benefit Gala at Formetco in Duluth on Saturday, October 4, beginning at 6 p.m., sponsorship opportunities are now open to the public.
“In addition to being our largest fundraiser of the year, our Gala is often the event of the season,” said Rainbow Village CEO Melanie Conner. “It’s a time to gather together and do some truly wonderful things on behalf of families who need it most. For the last 15 years, we’ve maintained a similar theme, formal dress code, and venue. We are truly grateful to the team at the Atlanta Athletic Club for consistently providing such a beautiful venue and dinner. Because the event is always hosted on a Saturday during the Fall, we often had to compete with a busy college football schedule. This year, we opted to lean into the spirit of the season rather than try to fight it. We are excited to partner with Formetco – a family-owned company that designs and manufactures digital billboards and video scoreboards. We’re banking on this event being a real game-changer – not only for our organization, but also for the families we serve.”
Conner relayed that many of the Gala’s most popular features will remain in place, including Rainbow Village’s famed wine wall, inspiring program alumni testimonials, and live auction. However, in addition to the change in theme and venue, some fresh and fun experiences will be incorporated into the evening to bring the spirit of community and connection to life for attendees. She asserted that no football knowledge is required to attend the event, just a heart for making a difference. As for attire, she claimed that the guests can assume the role of “ref!” Attendees can dress it up or dress it down with anything from a tux with tennis shoes to jeans and their favorite team jersey.
While guests look forward to a fun and festive evening this fall, Conner and her team are rallying support from sponsors to ensure the event scores big for families in need. Northside Hospital has signed on as the Presenting Sponsor. Chick-fil-A has been recruited as the Game Changer Sponsor, The Whitlock Group and Embassy National Bank joined the team as All-Star Sponsors, and Morgan Stanley Terminus Group and Fortune-Johnson have signed on at the MVP Level. Depending on the level of sponsorship, perks include event tickets, on-site branding, stage and social media recognition, and inclusion in Rainbow Village’s e-news and event program. To review sponsorship levels and join the team, companies and organizations are invited to visit the Event Sponsorship Page. For more information about Rainbow Village and its all-important mission to end homelessness – one family at a time, visit https://rainbowvillage.org/.
