Updates from Looking Glass
Thank you to all those who attended this year's Looking Glass auction gala fundraiser event! This year’s event had an old Hollywood Oscars theme and raised a RECORD-SETTING amount of donations for Looking Glass at-risk youth programs. With red carpets, movie-themed decor and a live jazz club band, supporters felt like members of the Hollywood elite - as they should for supporting our organization with such generosity!
National Safe Place Week, an annual promotion to raise awareness about the Safe Place Program (a nation-wide program which brings together youth service agencies, businesses, volunteers and other community partners to help youth in crisis) is March 15th through 21st this year. In Lane County, Looking Glass Station 7 is the Safe Place program provider. Looking Glass partners with several area businesses and agencies including LTD, all Dari Mart locations, fire stations and more (67 locations in total).
During this year’s Safe Place week, Looking Glass has a fundraiser at Tacovore (530 Blair Blvd in Eugene) wherein Looking Glass will receive 10% of all sales on Wednesday, March 18th. No flyer needed.
Since forming in 2018, the Looking Glass Board of Stewards has helped support and advance fundraising and community awareness efforts in and around Lane County. The group that makes up this board has changed year to year, but the passion and dedication of the various personalities within the group have kept it focused on its mission to help improve the lives of our most vulnerable populations in our community.
The 15th annual Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures breakfast fundraiser, held at Venue 252 in Eugene, focused this year on the Looking Glass Counseling Program. A panel of Looking Glass therapists did a Q&A with emcee Mary Reilly discussing everything from trends they’re seeing in the community, different therapy strategies and services offered and advice for parents of teens. This year’s event title sponsor was Hearing Associates and co-owner and Looking Glass Board of Stewards member, Colin Welch, spoke to the attendees about the importance of supporting Looking Glass and encouraged them to donate as well.
The 2025 Looking Glass Auction Gala Fundraiser - the 25th annual such gathering - held on Saturday, APril 12th at Venue 252 in Eugene, had a Wicked/Wizard of Oz theme. The decor was plentiful and attendees (almost 300 of them) came dressed in a mix of movie themed looks and classy suits and dresses. There were lots of Glinda’s and several scarecrows, Lions, Tin Men, Dorothy’s and witches. Ceiling-spinning acrobats (Revelers Aerial Works) accompanied a fantastic live band (The Michael Allen Harrison Trio) and in the end, a huge amount of donations were given and fun was had by all.
The 14th Annual Looking Glass Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures breakfast fundraiser event, held Tuesday, October 15th at Venue 252 in Eugene, focused on Education programs with a panel of Looking Glass teachers from the agency’s alternative schools. In addition, Looking Glass recognized and honored this year’s Community Partner of the Year - Jennifer Montgomery, the Secondary Special Education Consultant for the 4J School District.
The annual Spring auction gala fundraiser for Looking Glass raised a record amount of revenue through corporate sponsorships, auction bids and paddle raises. By the end of the night, which celebrated Dynamic Duos with a theme that included 29 individually decorated table centerpieces, crucial funds had been raised for Looking Glass programs. At this year’s event there were two guests given surprise honors - first Looking Glass outgoing CEO, Craig Opperman, was informed that the Community Leadership award given annually is now named after him. Then Dan LaCoste, longtime Looking Glass board member (and chair for 6 years until this year), was given the Craig Opperman Community Leadership Award.
The 11th annual Looking Glass Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures breakfast fundraiser was held on Tuesday, October 17th at Venue 252 in Eugene and raised crucial funds for Looking Glass programs. In addition to funds, over 5,000 pairs of socks were received to help with the October-long sock donation drive (Socktoberfest) for homeless youth!
At this year’s breakfast, guests were treated to a Q&A panel of Looking Glass leaders, facilitated by Emcees Liz Kelly and Mary Reilly.
Attendees dressed in a variety of outfits for this year’s Looking Glass auction gala fundraiser, held Saturday, April 15th at Venue 252 in Eugene. This year’s theme was an 80’s dance party with lots of Back to the Future elements including a DeLorean, the infamous clock tower (complete with lightening striking the car), Marty McFly and Doc lookalikes and lots of crucial funds being raised for at-risk youth. (See two Success Story Client Videos too!)
After two years of virtual breakfast events, the 10th annual Looking Glass Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures fundraiser was held in person and was a huge success. Roughly 90 people gathered for a lovely breakfast at Venue 252 in Eugene on Tuesday, November 15th in support of Looking Glass. SEE VIDEOS>>>
The 5th annual Looking Glass fundraiser, Hike for Hope, at Mt Pisgah was a big success this year - raking in just over $7,500 for Looking Glass programs from event sponsors and hiking supporters. This year’s event featured three Looking Glass staff members sharing their experiences with supporters just prior to the hike up the North Trailhead - Jane Green from Station 7, Jeremy Spafford from the Regional Crisis Center and Maiyra Espinoza from the Counseling program. Special thanks goes to event title sponsor Hearing Associates!
