Lutheran Community Services Chocolate and Champagne Gala

By Katie Tolley

This article was sponsored by Lutheran Community Services Chocolate & Champagne Gala but all opinions are our own.

A Can’t-Miss Event in Spokane, Washington: The LCSNW Chocolate & Champagne Gala

The Chocolate & Champagne Gala, one of Lutheran Community Services’ most important fundraisers of the year, is coming up on Saturday, April 15th at the Spokane Convention Center. Bigger and better than ever, you’re invited to join us for an unforgettable evening of Old Hollywood Glamour! You will feel like a star while sipping champagne, sampling decadent chocolate, and enjoying a gourmet dinner. Even better, treat yourself to VIP tickets for a truly one-of-a-kind experience!

But the fun won’t end there… Live and silent auctions, a photo booth, raffles, live music, and dancing will make for an extraordinary evening to support life-saving trauma recovery services in our community. Find all the details online at ccgalaspokane.org.

Can’t attend the gala? There are many, many more ways to support Lutheran Community Services’ work. Be sure to follow them on social media and visit lcsnw.org to find other events, and volunteer opportunities or to donate.

How do we use the money we raise to support our local community?

Trauma-informed advocacy services, like those provided at Lutheran Community Services, are proven to increase safety, reduce further victimization, and help survivors heal. While many of our programs receive some contract or grant funding, that’s not always the case. Additionally, that funding is often competitive, fluctuates, and does not cover certain projects or expenses.

Services like those offered through our Advocacy and Education Program are one such example because they are completely free and confidential. And, despite the rising need for victim services, this program is facing devastating legislative funding cuts of 17-36% in the next few months that will severely impact the health and safety of our community.

The bottom line is, the money we raise through events like the Chocolate & Champagne Gala are the most flexible funding we have available and allow us to respond nimbly to evolving community needs as they emerge and provide whole person care to thousands of clients each year.

Learn more about Lutheran Community Services in this video: We are Lutheran Community Services Northwest (Spokane, WA)

What is Lutheran Community Services Northwest?

Lutheran Community Services Northwest partners with individuals, families, and communities for health, justice, and hope. They advocate for victims and offer a variety of programs, including mental and behavioral health, wraparound services, refugee foster care, and medical and legal crime victim advocacy services, to help people recover and heal from traumatic events.

LCS licenses foster homes, specializes in youth services, operates the region’s 24/7 sexual assault support line, and their staff and volunteers are out in the community educating people about sexual abuse, assault, harrassment, and human trafficking every day.

Who does Lutheran Community Services Northwest serve?

We are proud to be part of a larger organization that serves more than 50,000 people each year across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, helping to make the world a safer, healthier, and more hopeful place for us all.

At Lutheran Community Services Northwest in Spokane, we advocate for victims and help people recover and heal from traumatic events. When healing happens, our families and community are stronger.

Everyone is welcome at LCS, no matter their background, faith, or sexual or gender identity. We celebrate diversity and know it makes our community a stronger place to live.

What does Lutheran Community Services Northwest do?

Our Victim Advocacy services help people start the recovery process from trauma by being there in a crisis, connecting people to resources, and helping them exercise their rights. As Spokane’s lead Crime Victim Service Center, we respond to all six area emergency departments and run the region’s 24/7 sexual assault support line. We also improve safety and are out in the community educating people about sexual abuse, assault, harrassment, and human trafficking.

Our Behavioral Health services help people heal. We specialize in youth services and work with trauma survivors and crime victims. Many of our clients have survived abuse and violence in many forms, so we strive to ensure that individuals of all ages have timely access to mental and behavioral health services from knowledgeable caring providers.

What are some statistics we hope to impact?

New trend data from CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) reveal that teen girls and teens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ+) are experiencing extremely high levels of mental distress, violence, and substance use.

According to the data, teen girls are confronting the highest levels of sexual violence, sadness, and hopelessness they have ever reported to YRBS.

Almost 1 in 5 teen girls experienced sexual violence in the past year—a significant increase from 2017.

More than 1 in 10 teen girls reported they had ever been forced to have sex. This measure increased for the first time since CDC began monitoring this measure.

3 in 5 girls felt persistently sad and hopeless, a marker for depressive symptoms, in 2021, increasing substantially from 2011.

More than 1 in 4 girls reported they seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021, up significantly from 2011.

Support LCSNW by Attending the Chocolate & Champagne Gala

One great way to support Lutheran Community Services is by attending the 2023 Chocolate & Champagne Gala. You’ll learn more about LCSNW’s programs, plus sip champagne and enjoy delicious chocolate! Make sure to get your tickets for the April 15 event here.