Gala Theme

Our gala theme, “Impact Squared,” is named for our five-year Strategic Plan. We are celebrating the multiplier effect we will achieve through our strategies, which will exponentially impact a greater number of Guatemalan women, families, and communities by 2025.

Honoree

Our evening gala will honor Karen Barker, co-founder of the Genesee Circle and a Friendship Bridge supporter for more than 20 years.

Special Guest

Traveling from Guatemala to Colorado for the gala is Gloria Cholotío, one of our longest-serving employees of 18 years.

Our Goal

Our goal is to raise $165,000 at our gala this year to continue empowering Guatemalan women to build a better life through the tools of microcredit, education, and health services. Every ticket sold, each auction item purchased, and every donation we receive will help us reach this goal. Thank you for supporting Friendship Bridge!

How to Watch

Joining the virtual event is easy! The 2022 Building Bridges Gala will stream LIVE on April 28. For the best experience, we highly recommend watching the video from a computer or a big-screen TV. You will be able to use the chat function within the live stream platform to ask questions. Can’t attend? The gala is being filmed and the full recording will be available after the event.

Schedule

• Virtual broadcast pre-show goes LIVE at 6:45pm MDT / 8:45pm EST / 5:45pm PCT
• Event program starts at 7:00pm MDT / 9:00pm EST / 6:00 PCT
• Virtual event ends at 8:00pm MDT / 10:00pm EST / 7:00 PCT

Auctioneer + Paddle Raise

Our gala auctioneer Debbie Scheer will host an exciting paddle raiser activity during the gala. AES will be sending every virtual attendee an email or text (if you signed up for SMS texting during registration, which we highly recommend) that will allow you to click a link and add a donation to your bidder record to be a part of the paddle raise.

Our Silent Auction

Find something you love in our silent auction, featuring an amazing collection of more than 45 unique items and experiences!

Note: Auction opens Saturday, April 23 at 8:00am MDT and closes Thursday, April 28 at 9:00pm MDT. Auction items are nonrefundable.

How to Bid

In order to bid, you must first register with AES. You will receive an email when the auction opens that includes a link to your specific record for bidding. For the best experience, we highly recommend using your cell phone to bid in the auction while you watch the event on a bigger screen.