Inspiring Minds Gala Celebrates 16 Years

WARREN, Ohio – Inspiring Minds will host its 16th Annual Fundraising Gala on Thursday, May 19, 2022 from 6:00-8:30pm at Kent State University at Trumbull, celebrating 16 years in the Mahoning Valley.

Coming off of a successful 15-year celebration last summer, Inspiring Minds has adapted the Gala as a hybrid event, opening the festivities to both indoor and outdoor preferences.

“Last year, our decision to move the Gala outdoors was very well received, so we decided to combine the two concepts,” said Inspiring Minds Founder & CEO, Deryck Toles. “The indoor and outdoor option opens up more space, opportunities and experiences for our guests.”

The Gala presents an authentic Caribbean theme this year, as the organization’s students have been exploring and studying about different Caribbean cultures. The Gala will showcase cuisine from eight different Caribbean countries, as well as music, traditions, and culture.

Toles emphasized it’s important to teach young people about different cultures and traditions, especially their own. “It gives them the opportunity to see the world from different perspectives, and teaches them how to connect with and understand different people.”

The Gala will also feature student achievement and participation, scholarship awards, community recognition, unique auctions and raffles, merchandise, and more.

“Every day, our students are working hard to reach their goals,” explained Toles, “and I love that our Gala is an opportunity to celebrate those everyday achievements in a big way.”

The Annual Gala is the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser, which typically draws more than 600 attendees, celebrating the accomplishments of the Warren and Youngstown chapters of Inspiring Minds.

Additional information on sponsorship opportunities, advertising and tickets is available at IMgala.org.

Over the past 16 years, Inspiring Minds has provided after-school and summer enrichment programming to thousands of students, more than 500 annually in the Mahoning Valley.  The organization has expanded services to five chapters in four states.

In addition, Inspiring Minds has exposed students to 75 cities in more than 20 states, toured over 90 colleges, explored more than 80 companies across the country, and graduated 100% of those students that continued their education at college or with the armed forces.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.