Once Upon a Time in Randolph County — A Night That Changed the Story for Our Children

The Gala for the Children 2026 raises over $94,000 for programs supporting children birth through five in Randolph County.

Gala for the Children 2026 Community

Some evenings you remember for the action. Some for the company. Some for the way a room full of people comes together around something that truly matters.

April 18, 2026 was all three.

The Gala for the Children 2026 — Once Upon a Time in Randolph County — was one of the most extraordinary evenings in the history of our annual fundraiser. More than 200 guests filled the Randolph County Agricultural Event Center for a night of catered dining, spirited bidding, games, and community celebration — and when the final bid was placed and the last raffle ticket was drawn, this community had raised over $94,000 for children and families right here in Randolph County.

Let that number sink in for a moment. $94,000. For children who are just beginning their stories.

AN ENCHANTED EVENING

From the moment guests walked through the doors, the magic of Once Upon a Time was in the air. Black Powder Smokehouse kept the crowd well fed with a delicious buffet while the silent auction tables filled with bid sheets and the Revolving Raffle buckets began to overflow with tickets.

The evening was full of fun, laughter, and the kind of friendly competition that only happens when a community is bidding for a cause it believes in. The Rock Paper Scissors game brought the crowd to its feet at 8:15 PM — with the last person standing, David Smith, choosing between a Cabin Stay in Gatlinburg or a 3-Night Stay in Ocean Isle Beach. The Revolving Raffle drew winners all evening long, building to the final draw — a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 donated by Dripps Browning, LLC. Parker Benefit Auctions guided the crowd through it all with their trademark energy and expertise, and we are so grateful for their partnership.

THE LIVE AUCTION

Gala for the Children 2026 Live Auction

The live auction brought out some of the most spirited bidding of the evening. And it was all kicked off with the “Buy a Hometown Hero a Drink” auction — where guests bid for the opportunity to buy Former Asheboro Mayor David Smith a drink!

Every bid was a vote of confidence in the community we share.

THE SILENT AUCTION — THREE CHAPTERS, ONE STORY

This year’s silent auction featured three themed sections — Once Upon a Time, A Hero’s Journey, and Happily Ever After — each closing at a different time throughout the evening to keep the excitement building. With more than 70 items across all three sections, guests had no shortage of incredible opportunities.

THE HEART OF THE EVENING

Gala for the Children 2026 Fund-A-Need

Every Gala for the Children has a moment that brings the room together — a moment that reminds every guest why they came. This year that moment was the Fund-A-Need, dedicated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails free, age-appropriate books every single month to registered children from birth through their fifth birthday — completely free to families. Randolph Partnership for Children helps bring this extraordinary program to families throughout Randolph County, because we know that children who are read to grow up ready to read themselves.

And it began with $8,000 in match dollars from our wonderful Gala Chairs, Modern Woodmen of America and a few anonymous donors! With that incentive, where the auctioneer called for the room to raise their paddles, Randolph County answered. And in that moment — paddles in the air, hearts full — the story of what this community is capable of became very clear.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of our sponsors. A heartfelt thank you to:

Gala Chairs: Modern Woodmen of America

Ciderella Crown Presenting Sponsors: Acme-McCrary and Sapona Foundation, Inc. | Alpha Omega Financial, LLC | Ann M. Hoover

We are also deeply grateful to every individual, business, and organization that donated an item to our auction and raffle — your generosity filled the tables and kept the paddles flying all evening. Finally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the members of our Gala planning committee, who helped ensure the success of every aspect of the Gala for the Children 2026.

LOOKING AHEAD

$94,000 is more than a number. It is books on doorsteps. It is families supported. It is a child walking into kindergarten ready to read, ready to learn, ready to grow. It is the next chapter — and Randolph County wrote it together.

We are already looking forward to the Gala for the Children 2027. If you would like to be part of the story — as a sponsor, auction donor, member of the planning committee, or guest — we would love to have you. Visit www.randolphkids.org or contact Kim Radcliffe at kradcliffe@randolphkids.org or (336) 629-2128 ext. 112 to learn more.

Thank you, Randolph County. What a chapter we wrote.

Gala for the Children 2026 Raises $94,000 for Randolph County Children | Randolph Partnership for Children