Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, is hosting ‘A Night of a Million Dreams’ Gala from 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón. The fourth annual gala will raise funds to support Better Together’s mission of helping parents find employment and provide a loving, safe and supportive foundation for their children.
Inspired by the theme “Once Upon a Time,” the elegant evening will include a delectable dinner, dueling pianos, live and silent auctions and compelling stories of lives transformed across Southwest Florida. Proceeds from the event will raise critical funds to benefit Better Together programs across the state, helping rewrite the stories of families in need and ensuring no one has to face their challenges alone. The event is chaired by Chadd and Andrea Hodges and Christian and Kelli Spilker.
“Our theme, ‘Once Upon a Time,’ recognizes a dream where homelessness, drug addiction, child abuse and neglect are mere tales of the past. This dream is not a mere fantasy but a tangible reality waiting to be written as we strive to end the foster care crisis in Florida,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “This gala is not just an event—it is a beacon of light, a testament to the power of collective action and a celebration of dreams becoming a reality. Every hero, supporter and sponsor play a crucial role as we create more ‘happily ever afters’ for families in need.”
Better Together helps parents who are going through a hard time to keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. Established in Southwest Florida in 2015, the nonprofit’s programming has rapidly expanded to reach families in six regions of Florida, which span 48 counties. To date, the program has served 10,000 children and kept 98% of children served through mentoring and hosting out of foster care, while helping nearly 40,000 job seekers find employment through church-based job fairs across 24 states.
This year’s Exclusive Presenting Title Sponsor is Gaea Landscaping. Additional sponsors include Boatman Ricci, DeAngelis Diamond, Edison Business Advisors, Estate Landscaping and Triple J Grassing & Mulching, Grasmeier Business Consulting, Gulfshore Life, HBK CPAs & Consultants, Hahn Loeser & Parks Law Firm, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LeeCorp Homes, The Naples Press, Potter Homes, Priority Marketing, Pulte Homes, Roof Right, Trinity Commercial Group and Wilson & Johnson Law Firm.
A range of sponsorship opportunities are still available for the fundraising gala, including Enchanted Castle Sponsor ($15,000), Royal Knight Sponsor ($10,000), Storyteller Sponsor ($7,500), Timeless Tale Sponsor ($5,000), Golden Apple Sponsor ($2,500) and Fund a Dream Sponsor ($500). To secure a sponsorship or for more information, contact Tina Gonzalez at TinaGonzalez@BetterTogetherUS.org.
The gala will be held at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, located at 2600 Tiburón Drive in Naples. Tickets are $500 per person and $5,000 for tables of eight. Valet parking is included, or self-parking is available for an additional $30.
To purchase gala tickets or to learn more about joining Better Together in its journey to provide hope and transformation to local families, visit BetterTogetherUS.org/Million-Dreams-Gala.
ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER
Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. A privately funded and professionally supported organization, Better Together is made up of volunteers who believe helping people help themselves is the best way to restore dignity and bring families together. Through the Better Families program, families are offered a preventive alternative to foster care while they get the help they need. To date, the program has kept 98% of children served out of foster care. The Better Jobs program was created to address the 76% of families that come to Better Together because of economic hardship tied to unemployment. In addition to community job fairs, the program offers job seekers coaching, guidance, support and encouragement through local church partners. For more information, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
