1,000 Dreams Fund recently had one of its biggest nights since its founding — our inaugural ElevateHER Gala event on Wednesday, November 3, 2021!

Looking back over the past five years and all that we’ve accomplished since our founding on behalf of the women we have served, we could not be more confident that 1,000 Dreams Fund — and the support we provide — are needed.

Not only is college increasingly expensive but COVID-19 made it even more financially difficult for students and women at all levels of their careers to pursue their dreams without setbacks and financial hurdles.

Each year, we receive thousands of applications for our programs, underscoring just how much the microgrants, mentorship and other critical resources we provide are needed. And we are working hard to ensure these resources will grow and continue to be there for more and more deserving applicants in the years ahead.

Our ElevateHER Gala, held virtually, was a dream-come-true event, and included our first-ever ElevateHER Gala Awards. We are excited to share some of our favorites highlights from the night with you, including our awardees!

Pre-Event Mixology Class & VIP Experience

Kicking the evening off, our VIP guests and award nominees joined 1,000 Dreams Fund founder and CEO Christie Garton and our Board of Directors for a pre-event mixology class featuring our signature cocktail “ElevateHER Fizz,” created by American Craft Distiller SoNo 1420, along with a conversation with our ElevateHER Master of Ceremonies @MsAshRocks.

It was an intimate gathering where everyone got to mix, mingle, and meet the people driving this organization forward. To top off the experience, guests were treated to a special performance from singer/songwriter Gracie Schram, one of our very first 1,000 Dream Fund Scholarship winners, who joined the group all the way from Stockholm, Sweden!

Debut of ‘The 1,000 Dreams Fund Story: Celebrating 5 Years of Making Dreams Come True’

Our founder Christie Garton opened her remarks with the debut of an important new video — 1,000 Dreams Fund Story: Celebrating 5 Years of Making Dreams Come True — celebrating the positive impact the organization has had since its founding. 

In the video, Christie also announces the organization’s next big goal: to reach more than 1 million women through its programs in the coming years.

Keynote with Grammy-winning violinist Ms. Miri Ben-Ari

The highlight of the evening came when “hip hop violinist,” producer, and “Goodwill Ambassador of Music” to the United Nations Miri Ben-Ari presented her keynote speech. 

Miri has paved the way for future generations of women musicians as the first (and only) violinist to win a Grammy in the Hip Hop category — and the first to be featured on hit songs and music videos in Hip Hop, Latin, EDM, and Afrobeats music. 

Miri provided her advice to our attendees on what it takes to reach one’s dreams at the highest level, and we were so lucky to have this musical pioneer as our keynote.

Awards Ceremony

Closing out the evening, we presented our first-ever ElevateHER Awards to standout students, supporters, sponsors, and organizations who have helped 1,000 Dreams Fund accomplish so much in just five short years. 

Another big round of applause for all our winners!

2021 ElevateHER Gala Awards

• SAB Member of the Year – Genna Elders 
• MentorHER Volunteer of the Year – Devin Carroll
• Sponsor of the Year – Colgate-Palmolive
• Rising Dreamer of the Year – Senaida Ng
• Impact Award – HARMAN
• Impact Award – Ila and Dinesh Paliwal Foundation
• Impact Award – Aly Sweetman

2021 BroadcastHER Awards

• BroadcastHER Standout Fundraiser – SirKatelyn
• BroadcastHER Partners of the Year – Allied Esports and HyperX
• BroadcastHER Advocate of the Year – MiladyConfetti
• Rising BroadcastHER – PastaroniRavioli
• BroadcastHER Esports Person of the Year – Imfamousx1x
• BroadcastHER Content Creator of the Year – DieHardDiva
• BroadcastHER Streamer of the Year – TheHotdish
• BroadcastHER Developer of the Year – Miko “DrMikachu” Charbonneau
• BroadcastHER Gaming Person of the Year – Carro

Check out this special congrats message from CuddleCore, who is a Pro Tekken Player for EQNX, a Red Bull Gaming Athlete, an EVO finalist, and more!

A HUGE SHOW OF THANKS!

Tremendous thanks are in order for everyone who contributed to our silent auction. We had so many amazing donations from our supporters, including an incredible Indy 500 package!

And, thank you a thousand times over to all our sponsors, donors, bidders, and viewers. It is because of every single one of you that we raised more than $40,000 during the gala.

What a way to celebrate five fabulous years. And, here’s to the next five years!