An Evening of Hope & Restoration
The Carolina Hotel in the Grand Ballroom (*please note that this is an update to the previous venue announcement)
80 Carolina Vista Drive
Enter the main entrance to the hotel and walk to the right down the long hallway until the end.
Suggested Semi-formal attire
Join us for a meaningful and memorable evening as we come together to celebrate hope, healing, and new beginnings while supporting the women of Rachel’s Refuge.
At Changing Destinies Ministry, we believe every woman deserves the opportunity to rebuild her life with dignity, hope, and compassionate support. Through Rachel’s Refuge, our long-term residential program, women who have survived trafficking and exploitation are finding safety, stability, and a renewed vision for their future.
This past year has been one of meaningful growth. We continue providing safe shelter, nourishing meals, trauma-informed care, life-skills development, and individualized support for each resident while strengthening community partnerships and expanding prevention and awareness efforts. We are also prayerfully exploring the next phase of our program - transitional housing to help bridge the gap between residential care and independent living.
5:30–6:00 PM | VIP Experience
Our VIP guests are invited to begin the evening with an intimate pre-event experience featuring hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, and a special musical performance by Julia Golden. *Be sure to purchase a VIP ticket.
6:00 PM | Welcome & Guest Arrival
Doors open as we welcome friends, supporters, and community partners for an evening dedicated to changing lives and restoring hope. As guests arrive, we will enjoy a special performance by the Carolina Philharmonic Junior Orchestra, adding another memorable musical element to the Gala.
6:30 PM | Dinner
Enjoy dinner as we gather around a shared purpose—helping survivors of human trafficking find a safe place to heal, grow, and move toward a hopeful future.
Stories of Hope
Our evening program will feature our Master of Ceremonies Keith Eldridge, and special guest speaker Susan Young, the mother of a human trafficking survivor. Susan will join us in person to share her family’s powerful story of their journey through human trafficking and its impact on their family.
Guests will also have the privilege of hearing heartfelt messages from residents of Rachel’s Refuge, offering a meaningful glimpse into their journeys of healing and the hope they are finding for the future.
Raffle & Live Auction (More information below)
The evening continues with the announcement of our raffle winners followed by an exciting live auction, with opportunities to take home something special while making an even greater impact in the lives of survivors.
8:30 PM | Evening Concludes
We’ll close our evening grateful for a community that believes in the power of hope and the possibility of a new beginning.
Come be part of the Journey of Hope and help make restoration possible.
RAFFLE
A Raffle Made Possible by Our Generous Community
Our gala raffle will feature an incredible collection of donated items, made possible by the generosity of the local businesses and community partners who continue to support Changing Destinies Ministry. We are so grateful for each business that has helped make this special part of the evening possible! Purchase your tickets the night of the gala.
Please note: You do not need to be present to win the raffle.
Can’t join us for the gala? You can still participate! Simply purchase your raffle tickets using the link below, and you’ll have the opportunity to designate which raffle basket(s) or items that you would like your tickets to support. Or allow us to evenly spread out your tickets amongst all items. We’ll be adding to and updating our list of raffle prizes regularly, so be sure to check back often—there will be new additions and changes right up until the evening of the gala!
These are just a few of the RAFFLE ITEMS. We will update more soon. Keep checking back!
The Vidanta Mayan Palace Vacation Package- 7 Night Stay for two adults and two children under the age of 12.
Tim Tebow Signed Photograph
A complimentary round of golf for two at The Country Club of North Carolina on the acclaimed Dogwood course. After the round with supporter Steve Woodward and his son-in-law, Moore County Amateur champion Jackson Smith, the foursome will gather for lunch at the CCNC Dornoch Grille.
A complimentary round of golf for four at Longleaf Golf & Family Club. Includes golf cards, range balls, and a round on the Bottlebrush course (the area's first short course).
A complimentary round of golf for four at Pinehurst #8.
SPONSORS
A Gala made possible by these amazing sponsors. We could not have this Gala and help the women we serve without them, so our hearts are so full of gratitude to the following:
Compassionate Partners
A Company That Cares
Friendly Faces, Premier Customer Service.
Thomas Mewherter founded Plumbing Repair Inc in 2008 after identifying the need for a reliable, customer service oriented plumbing company in the local community. He quickly realized that past customers were recommending him to friends, family and neighbors by saying, "Just Call Thomas." Thus, the company was renamed Thomas Plumbing and continues operating under that name today.
Welcome to First Bank Southern Pines, NC!
We are pleased to be the community bank of choice for Southern Pines, NC. Here you’ll find straightforward advice from our local financial experts and sophisticated financial products to keep your accounts on the right track. We offer personal banking, business banking, digital and mobile banking, mortgage loans, business loans, and wealth management services.
At First Bank, we offer the same services as the big banks, but with personalized service from bankers who know your name and live in your neighborhood.
Start Your Journey to Financial Freedom with Osaic Wealth
At Osaic Wealth, we believe real financial planning goes beyond models, products, or one-size-fits-all strategies. Whether you're just getting started, approaching retirement, or growing your business, your financial life deserves a plan that’s built around you, not built for the masses.
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With personalized strategies, straightforward guidance, and the right tools, we help you make smarter financial decisions, so you can focus on what matters most: your family, your business, your future.
Donors Stephen and Caroline Later
Donors Brian and Julianne Clodfelter
McPEAKE HOTELS
A Christian-based, employee-owned company that develops Financial & Utility Management and Public Safety Software Solutions.
Blessed Community Partners
North Carolina’s Premier Choice for Insurance
The Terry Riney Agency has been a family owned and operated independent insurance agency since 2005.
Donors Larry and Betsy Best
Betsy is also one of our wonderful voluteers.