Katy Christian Ministries to hold virtual gala Tuesday evening

By R. Hans Miller | News Editor
Posted 10/24/20

Katy Christian Ministries will hold its 16th annual gala Tuesday, though with a virtual spin out of an abundance of caution due to the COVID-19 pandemic, KCM Executive Director Deysi Crespo said. The …

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Katy Christian Ministries to hold virtual gala Tuesday evening

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Katy Christian Ministries will hold its 16th annual gala Tuesday, though with a virtual spin out of an abundance of caution due to the COVID-19 pandemic, KCM Executive Director Deysi Crespo said. The event will begin with a preshow at 6 p.m. and a gala at 6:30 p.m. through the nonprofit’s Facebook page.

“Our hope is that the community, right after they get off from work, they can unwind from the daily stress and enjoy the gala from the comfort of their homes, enjoy dinner and they don’t have to dress up,” Crespo said. “They don’t have to go anywhere.”

The live-streamed event with a theme of “Starry Night at Home” will be emceed by Johnny Bravo Entertainment and will feature testimonials about how KCM has impacted its clients’ lives. Johnny Bravo Entertainment’s owner Johnny B. Holloway will inject humor and useful information into the show, Crespo said. Music will play throughout the event, she said, and the grand finale will be a performance by the Cinco Ranch Choir.

“We really want our community to hear (about the work we do) so there are testimonials from families that we have helped,” Crespo said.

An online auction featuring everything from gift card packs to Kendra Scott jewelry or country club perks is also available and is currently live online at: qtego.net/qlink/katychristian.

KCM’s goal for the Gala is to raise $100,000 to aid them in their mission to provide a variety of community services to Katy area residents including financial and food assistance, help getting access to benefits such as SNAP and CHIP, intervention and counseling for those experiencing sexual abuse or domestic violence and connecting those in need with community resources so the nonprofit’s clients can become more self-sufficient, Crespo said. However, reaching that goal has its challenges during the age of COVID-19.

“Our goal is $100,000 … and, historically, it has generated close to that amount, but (COVID-19) happened, right? And it pushed all of our fundraisers to the fourth quarter, making it more challenging,” Crespo said.

Crespo said that, despite the challenges the pandemic has placed on the planning process for KCM’s fundraisers, including the gala which is one of its largest internally-generated annual revenue resources, the KCM team is hoping to still have raised 75% of its goal for the event Tuesday evening.

Fundraising hasn’t been the only challenge that KCM has faced over the last several months, Crespo said. Many of their services such as mental assistance and other one-on-one interactions have gone virtual in order to ensure client and staff safety, she said. Additionally, with the rise in demand, KCM staff and volunteers – including board members – have gone out of their way to make adjustments and meet needs in new ways, including delivering financial assistance and food directly to clients’ homes in some instances.

Even our Board President (Patti Lacy) has made several deliveries,” Crespo said. “My husband and I have personally made deliveries and it’s such a great feeling to help people and go do that.”

Katy Christian Ministries, KCM, gala, Johnny Bravo Entertainment