Rainbow Days Hosts 24thAnnual Pot of Gold Luncheon

Featuring Keynote Speaker Josh Shipp

 Rainbow Days hosted its 24^th annual Pot of Gold Luncheon at the Omni Dallas Hotel Dallas Ballroom. On this festive Friday afternoon, around 500 supporters and guests gathered to raise a grand total of $232,185 for Rainbow Days through sponsorships, auction bidding, donations, individual seats and virtual livestream ticket sales.

Held annually since 1997, the Pot of Gold Luncheon is a cheerful and celebratory fundraising event benefiting Rainbow Days’ mission and services. Each year, the luncheon features an inspiring keynote speaker, special performances from the Rainbow Days children, moving program testimonials and silent auction bidding. The 2021 event also featured a virtual livestream ticket option to enable guests who were unable to attend in person to participate virtually from the comfort of their own homes.

• 

• 

In-person and virtual guests enjoyed a poignant keynote address from author Josh Shipp. A former at-risk foster kid turned youth advocate, Josh is renowned for the documentary TV series on A&E that followed his groundbreaking work with youth and families. He has written two national bestsellers to date and is regularly called on by OPRAH, CNN, FOX, The New York Times, 20/20, Good Morning America and others to provide commentary on common challenges faced by parents and teachers. At Rainbow Days’ 2021 Pot of Gold Luncheon, Josh inspired the luncheon guests with his personal story about the transformative power of one caring adult in a child’s life.

Other highlights of the luncheon program included performances by children living in local shelters who are current Rainbow Days program participants. To celebrate how so many challenges and obstacles throughout the last year have been overcome, the children danced onstage to Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” as well as performed a COVID-themed rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”

• 

• 

This year’s event was made possible through the hard work, time and resources of the 2021 Pot of Gold Luncheon Committee members. Event leadership included Luncheon Chairs Kyle Coots and Ross DeRogatis and Auction Chairs Melissa Griffith and Talene Kozanian. Special thanks are also in order for Victoria Snee, who served as the event’s Master of Ceremonies.

Rainbow Days would also like to recognize the many sponsors, donors and volunteers who helped make the 2021 Pot of Gold Luncheon a tremendous success. Featured here are sponsor levels “I Am” and above:

• I Will: Greenberg Traurig and Miramar Equity Partners
• I Can: Citi, DonJoy, Goodwin & Company, Jill & Dale Hurd, Kirkland & Ellis, Alyssa & Kurt Opella, The Anderson Family, The Invitation Project, Thompson Coburn LLP and Winston & Strawn LLP
• I Am: Bragalone Olejko Saad PC, Melissa & Paul Griffith + Talene & Hagop Kozanian, Christina & Dustin Hickey, Phyllis & John Horan, Lennox International, Lockton Dunning Benefits, Mary Jo & James McKellar, Texas Mutual Insurance Company, Thompson Knight Foundation, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Weaver Accounting and Nicole Williams & Chris George

Additionally, Rainbow Days is honored to have had Good Life Family Magazine as the 2021 Pot of Gold Luncheon Media Sponsor.

ABOUT RAINBOW DAYS: The 24^th annual Pot of Gold Luncheon benefitted Rainbow Days, a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Founded in 1982, Rainbow Days has a mission to help children and youth in adversity build coping skills and resilience to create positive futures. Through support groups, life enrichment programs and critical needs services, Rainbow Days makes meaningful connections with at-risk and homeless children and youth and has positively impacted more than 234,000 kids in the Dallas area to date. For more information, please visit www.RainbowDays.org or call (214) 887-0726.

*Photos by Rob Wythe, Wythe Portrait Studio

(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent Rainbow Days, Inc. and publish this Charity Lifestyles Scene post.)