TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2026

WOODWAY COUNTRY CLUB, DARIEN

Sponsorships, Tickets and Ads:

An evening celebrating community, connection, and the power of recovery.

Join us for the 19th Annual Liberation Programs’ Spirit of Hope Gala, an inspiring evening dedicated to celebrating the strength of our community and the power of recovery. This signature event brings together supporters, partners, and community leaders who believe that with compassion, connection, and access to care, individuals and families can build healthy, hopeful lives.

Proceeds from the Spirit of Hope Gala support Liberation Programs’ prevention, treatment, recovery, and community outreach services, ensuring that people across our region have the opportunity not only to heal, but to thrive.

Honoring Leadership and Impact

At the Spirit of Hope Gala, we are proud to recognize leaders whose commitment to prevention, recovery, and public health has made a lasting difference in our community.

 Mayor Caroline Simmons of City of Stamford

Mayor Caroline Simmons and the City of Stamford

We are honored to recognize Mayor Caroline Simmons and the City of Stamford for their leadership and partnership in advancing a comprehensive, community-wide approach to mental health, substance use, and prevention. Under Mayor Simmons’ leadership, Stamford has invested in services that support individuals across the full continuum of care, from early intervention and youth prevention to treatment and long-term recovery.

Through support for school-based counseling, community education, and prevention initiatives, the City of Stamford is helping young people and families build resilience and strong foundations for the future. This commitment reflects a vision for a healthier community where individuals are supported to recover, reconnect, and thrive.

 Mayor Caroline Simmons of City of Stamford

Brian Mann, NPR Award-Winning Journalist

We are also honored to recognize Brian Mann, NPR’s first national addiction correspondent, for his extraordinary contributions to public understanding of addiction, drug policy, and recovery. Through compassionate, in-depth reporting on the opioid crisis and the rise of synthetic opioids, Mann has brought national attention to the human stories behind complex public health challenges.

 Since joining NPR full time in 2020, Mann has been at the forefront of coverage on the opioid crisis, including early reporting on the rapid and deadly spread of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. His work brings national attention to the lived experiences of people and families affected by addiction, grounding complex public health issues in fact and context. After losing his father and stepbrother to substance use, Mann’s journalism reflects a deep commitment to reducing stigma and advancing understanding of what prevention, access to care, and recovery can make possible for communities.

Your support makes recovery possible.

When you attend the Spirit of Hope Gala or become an event sponsor, you are investing in life-changing services that support people at every stage of their journey. Your generosity strengthens:

      • Prevention and early intervention that equips young people with tools to build resilience
      • Integrated mental health and substance use treatment that supports recovery and stability
      • Community outreach and engagement that connects people to care when and where they need it
      • Housing and recovery support services that help individuals and families build sustainable futures

Together we are creating pathways to recovery rooted in dignity, compassion, and connection.

Sponsorships, Tickets and Ads:

How to join us and support THRIVE

There are several meaningful ways to be part of THRIVE: Liberation Programs’ Spirit of Hope Gala:

Attend as an Individual

Individual tickets starting at $250

Host a Table

Gather friends, colleagues, or your organization. Table sponsorships from $1,500–$50,000

Become an Event Sponsor

Corporate and community sponsorships with event recognition. Includes creative sponsorship opportunities: mocktail, flowers, parting gift, and more!

Advertise in the Event Journal

Show your support with a journal ad. Ad opportunities from $250–$1,000

We’d love to help you find the right fit.

Whether you’re attending, hosting, sponsoring, or advertising, your participation helps strengthen the community that makes healing possible. We would be happy to connect with you to answer questions and help identify the best way for you or your organization to get involved.  Please contact Tracy Cramer, Chief Development Officer at tracy.cramer@liberationprograms.org or 203-391-7902.

Attend as an Individual

Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating community, connection, and recovery.
Individual tickets $250

Host a Table

Bring friends, colleagues, or supporters together by hosting a table.
Table sponsorships range from $1,500 to $50,000, offering a wonderful way to gather your community while supporting Liberation Programs’ mission. Table sponsors receive event recognition and visibility commensurate with their level of support.

TABLE PACKAGES:

HOPE Sponsor

$50,000

Hope is at the heart of all we do. This is our presenting sponsor level with the highest visibility and recognition.

Includes:

  • 20 Event Tickets
  • Full inside front cover journal ad
  • Recognition from podium at event
  • Listing on invitation
  • Social Media posting
  • Name/logo on event website
  • Event signage

TRANSFORMATION Sponsor

$25,000

(4 Available)

Transforming Lives Together. 

 Includes:

  • 10 Event Tickets
  • Full inside back cover journal ad
  • Recognition from podium at event
  • Listing on invitation
  • Social Media posting
  • Name/logo on event website
  • Event signage

EMPOWERMENT Sponsor

$10,000

Empowering People, Building Community

  • 10 Event Tickets
  • Full Page Journal Ad
  • Listing on Invitation
  • Social Media Posting
  • Name/logo on Event Website
  • Event Signage

COMPASSION Sponsor

$5,000

Compassion, Care, and Connection

  • 10 Event Tickets
  • Half Page Journal Ad
  • Listing on Invitation
  • Social Media Posting
  • Name/logo on Event Website
  • Event Signage

    STRENGTH Sponsor

    $2,500

    Strength Through Recovery

    • 8 Event Tickets
    • Quarter Page Journal Ad
    • Name/logo on Event Website
    • Event Signage

        SUPPORTER Sponsor

        $1,500

        Supporting Hope and Healing

        • 4 Event Tickets
        • Name Listed in Journal
        • Event Signage

          Become an Event Sponsor

          Show your organization’s commitment to community well-being by becoming a THRIVE sponsor.

          Event sponsorships provide brand visibility, recognition throughout the event, and help underwrite key event costs, making the evening possible while advancing our life-saving work.

          We offer a range of sponsorship levels, including creative opportunities such as Signature Mocktail, Floral, or Parting Gift Sponsorships, and are happy to customize a package that aligns with your goals.

          SPECIALIZED SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES:

          Speaker’s Table Sponsor

          $5,000

          (1 Available)

          The Speaker Table Sponsor receives the unique opportunity to host the evening’s featured speaker at their table, offering a more personal connection to the heart of the program. This sponsorship includes premier table placement, recognition in event materials, and acknowledgment from the stage.

          Includes:

          • 8 Event Tickets
          • Half Page Journal Ad
          • Event Signage
          • Name/logo on Event Website
          • Social Media Posting
          • Recognition from Event Podium

          Flower Sponsor

          $2,500

          (1 Available)

          Flowers are a symbol of growth and renewal. As the Flower Sponsor for THRIVE, your support will help transform the space into one that reflects hope, connection, and the power of community. Your sponsorship brings beauty to the evening while helping individuals and families move beyond survival to truly thrive.

          Includes:

          • 2 Event Tickets
          • Half Page Journal Ad
          • Event Signage
          • Name/logo on Event Website
          • Social Media Posting

          Signature Mocktail Sponsor

          $2,500

          (1 Available)

          One of our most sought after levels! Sponsor curates a custom, alcohol-free mocktail for the cocktail hour! You provide the recipe + name (mission-themed or personal).

          Includes:

          • 2 Event Tickets
          • Half Page Journal Ad
          • Event Signage
          • Name/logo on Event Website
          • Social Media Posting

          Parting Gift Sponsor

          $2,500

          (1 Available)

          This special sponsorship underwrites a meaningful takeaway for each guest. The gift serves as a tangible reminder of the impact we make together. Sponsor recognition will be included on gift or packaging and in event program. Deadline for branding: March 1

          Includes:

          • 2 Event Tickets
          • Half Page Journal Ad
          • Event Signage
          • Name/logo on Event Website
          • Social Media Posting

          Voices of Recovery Sponsorship

          $2,500

          This sponsorship underwrites one featured story shared on social media, in the event journal and during the program.

          Includes:

          • 2 Event Tickets
          • Half Page Journal Ad
          • Event Signage
          • Name/logo on Event Website
          • Social Media Posting

          Legacy of Hope Ad Sponsor

          $1,000

          This sponsor level is designed to honor a family, individual or company. You provide a name and personal message to be honored.

          Includes:

          • 2 Event Tickets
          • Half Page Journal Ad
          • Event Signage
          • Name/logo on Event Website

          Support through our Event Journal

          Celebrate, honor, or show your support with an ad in our event journal.
          Journal ads range from $250 to $1,000 and offer a meaningful way to recognize your organization, family, or message while supporting Liberation Programs.

          JOURNAL AD OPTIONS:

          Full Page Journal Ad

          $1,000

          Half Page Journal Ad

          $500

          Quarter Page Journal Ad

          $250

          Name Listing in Journal

          $100