On May 4th, more than 100 dedicated supporters of Deborah’s Place gathered with us at the Garfield Park Conservatory for our annual fundraising event. Every year, Opening Doors is our largest and most exciting fundraising event, and this year’s was no different.
Under the theme “A Place to Grow,” in celebration of the new Conservatory Apartments opening later this year, supporters were able to make contributions through raffles, silent and live auctions, and event sponsorship. We’re grateful to all the businesses and groups that sponsored and made this event possible, including our leading sponsor BMO.
All told, this event raised $107,475 to furnish the Conservatory Apartments and support all the ongoing programs at Deborah’s Place.
We were privileged to hear from two Deborah’s Place alumnae and a current resident, whose stories show us all what is possible with a community of love and support. As Elhaida said, “Because of Deborah’s Place, I am excited for the future. My happiness, and my joy for life has only grown more by the day since moving in.”
Below, you can watch a video that was shown during the evening’s presentation, in which women of Deborah’s Place share parts of their stories as well—about where they came from, as well as the healing, sisterhood, and growth that they’ve found in their time at Deborah’s Place.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the efforts of Deborah’s Place staff, who volunteered their time to share what we do and keep things running smoothly.
If you’re reading this, we are so grateful for your support of our mission. You make it possible for us to bring women in from vulnerability to safety, from instability to home—you are helping us create places to grow and thrive, at the Conservatory Apartments and beyond.
Photos by Aidan Kranz (2023)