Grace Centers of Hope Hosts 12th Annual “Night of Hope” Gala to Benefit Children’s Program

PONTIAC, Mich. — Grace Centers of Hope (GCH), a leading faith-based nonprofit that provides comprehensive life skills programs to men, women, and children whose lives have been impacted by homelessness, addiction, and abuse, will host its 12th Annual Night of Hope gala from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at The Royal Park Hotel, 600 E. University Dr. in Rochester.

The flagship fundraising event supports the Children’s Program at Grace Centers of Hope, which provides a safe, loving environment for over 100 children, offering childcare services while parents work toward recovery at GCH. This year’s theme is “Home for the Holidays,” with every moment of the evening contributing to nurturing the Children’s Program and building brighter futures.

The event draws attention to some alarming statistics, such as the fact that 1 in 30 U.S. children will experience homelessness this year, and that more than 30,000 students in Michigan were identified as homeless this past school year.

“This special night is a celebration of what hope can do, and the vital importance of our Children’s Program in creating stability for these children,” said Darin Weiss, CEO of Grace Centers of Hope. “Every ticket, every sponsor, every bid helps us build a bright future for the children in our care. Through the Children’s Program, lives are being changed for generations to come, while cycles of isolation and hopelessness are being broken. We appreciate everyone’s support to help these children and their families on the journey to healing.”

The Night of Hope event will be hosted this year by media personality Jamie Edmonds, who hosts the “JR Morning” show on WJR 760 AM from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. weekdays, and is an Emmy-nominated sports anchor/reporter for WDIV-TV. Jamie is a graduate of the University of Delaware, and earned her graduate degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Her nearly 20 years in broadcasting includes two Michigan Association of Broadcasters “Best Sportscast” awards, and she’s also been nominated twice for Michigan Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.

Guests will enjoy an elegant evening of dining, inspiration, and giving, featuring:

• A gourmet menu with appetizers, short rib entrée, dessert, cocktails, and refreshments.

• A silent auction featuring more than 150 unique items, perfect for holiday shopping, including handcrafted pieces made by children in the program.

• Multiple raffles with fun, meaningful prizes

• Live testimonies highlighting the powerful impact of the Children’s Program and stories of hope, healing, and transformation.

• Exclusive early access to the silent auction preview

GCH Children’s Program Director Bianca Dixon said she is appreciative of all support for the Night of Hope event.

“Our team has a passion for molding young minds as they come into the Children’s Program, but initially it can be a challenge because many of these children experience separation anxiety,” Dixon said. “We work hard to make sure they know they are safe and have our full support, then they emerge from that shell and it’s a beautiful transformation to witness. All the support we receive at Night of Hope is truly a blessing, and can help Grace Centers of Hope support even more children and families in the future.”

This year’s event is made possible through the generous support of sponsors including Auch Construction, Believers in Hope, Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Care Network, Celanese, Chase for Business, Hour Detroit, Impact Internal Medicine, Magna International, Michael Mihalich, Moon & Back Snacks, Live Life Now, Kay Hatfield, Regiani Holistic Dental Center, Royal Park Hotel, UBS Financial, Valerie Johnson Foundation, and Viking Bags.

Tickets for Night of Hope are $150 per person or $1,000 for a table of 10. All proceeds directly support the Children’s Program. For tickets or more information, visit https://gracecentersofhope.org/night-of-hope/ or contact specialevents@gracecentersofhope.org.

About Grace Centers of Hope

Giving hope to the helpless since 1942, Grace Centers of Hope is considered one of the leading faith-based organizations in Southeastern Michigan, confronting daily the issues of homelessness, addiction, education, parenting, poverty, abuse and spiritual emptiness. On any given night, Grace Centers of Hope provides transitional shelter to 375 men, women and children, in addition to serving more than 238,000 meals each year. Grace’s $8 million yearly budget is maintained solely through corporate and private donors, exclusive of any government assistance. To learn more about Grace Centers of Hope or to make a donation, please visit www.gracecentersofhope.org.