About Our Gala

More so than any other year, this year's Gala is so important as we prepare to open the doors to the Courage House, Wisconsin's first home for LGBTQ+ youth. 100% of this fundraiser will go directly to sustaining the Courage House and Supporting the youth that will live there. We can't wait for you to join us down the road to the Emerald City we like to call The Courage House.

 

During the event you can expect:

 

Silent Auction. But!! Beware flying monkeys!!!

 

Live entertainment: Stepping in for the Wizard of Oz we hope to mesmerize you with magic and illusions by Kirk Patrick and a performance from our Mr. and Miss Courage MKE 2018.

 

Food and cash bar

 

Awards: and we aren't talking about a brain or a heart. We are talking about COURAGE! we will be awarding our 2018 Scholarship Recipients & our annual We're In This Together Award.

 

Our emcee is no Scarecrow or Tinman; celebrity hairstylist Gregory Patterson, seen across multiple seasons of Project Runway, has been a friend of, and inspiration to, Courage MKE since the beginning.Gregory can most recently be seen on the hit show The Look All Stars.

 

Keynote Speakers: We are thrilled and honored to welcome Judy and Dennis Shepard as our 2018 Keynote speakers sponsored by US Bank. On October 7, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming, was brutally attacked and tied to a fence in a field outside of Laramie, Wyoming where he was left to die. On October 12, Matt succumbed to his wounds in a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado.

 

In the aftermath of Matt’s death, Judy and Dennis Shepard started the Matthew Shepard Foundation to honor his life and aspirations. Out of this tragedy, was born the principle of the Foundation: to teach parents with children who may be questioning their sexuality to love and accept them for who they are, not throw them away.

 

Through their personal appearances across the country and around the world, the Shepard's share Matt’s story to highlight the importance of standing up for the LGBT community.

 

Dress Code: There is none: we want you to come as you are most comfortable, dress up if you'd like, and if not that's ok too! You are perfect either way!