BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – Appalachian Impact, a nonprofit youth development organization based in Upshur County, is set to host its third annual fundraising gala, “A Night of Dream Makers,” on Saturday, October 26, 2024. The event will take place at the Outpost Event Center in Buckhannon from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Founded in 2012 by Justin Bowers and his wife, Appalachian Impact is dedicated to building hope for at-risk students in North Central West Virginia through mentoring relationships and positive youth programming.

“The vision was to build hope for our students,” Bowers explained. “For several years, we did that through one-to-one mentoring. We trained mentors and deployed them into the schools to partner with a student that principals, counselors and teachers helped us identify.”

In recent years, Appalachian Impact has expanded its reach by establishing The Yellow Door at Hampton, a community building tailored for middle and high school students. This space, leased from the Upshur County Commission, has become a focal point for the organization’s youth-focused activities.

This fall, the organization launched “The Adventure After School,” a collaboration between Appalachian Impact and The Center for Community Engagement at West Virginia Wesleyan College. The weekly program offers tutoring and enrichment, character development and fun activities to local students in grades 2 through 5.

The upcoming gala, following the success of last year’s “A Masquerade in Yellow” event, promises an evening filled with music, dancing and inspiring stories. Attendees can look forward to live and silent auctions, a gala dinner and entertainment provided by a live band and DJ. Doors will open at 6 p.m., allowing guests to mingle before the main events begin.

Last year, Appalachian Impact raised over $17,000, which allowed the organization to establish a Hope Scholarship for two graduating seniors, as well as cover the programmatic costs for the year.

Appalachian Impact hopes to use funds raised from this year’s gala to help establish a permanent staff position, grow their scholarship fund and cover the cost of hiring summer staff members. This shift in focus reflects the organization’s growth, as they move beyond building renovations to expanding their programming and resources for students.

Tickets for “A Night of Dream Makers” are priced at $50 per person or $90 for couples. Those interested in attending can purchase tickets through Eventbrite by clicking here.

For more information about Appalachian Impact and their work in the community, or to inquire about mentoring opportunities, visit their Facebook page or contact Bowers at justin@newcommunitywv.com.