AYO GALA presented by KEEPING FAMILIES CONNECTED

A Night of Elegance and Impact

OVERVIEW

In 2025, Keeping Families Connected—a nonprofit founded by Dr. Letitia Scott Jackson—set out to host its annual major fundraising gala: a night of elegance, influence, and joy. The mission? To raise funds for a passenger van to help families visit their incarcerated loved ones and spotlight the broader community work the organization leads—from back-to-school drives to holiday food and clothing donations.

Enter the AYO Gala, named after the Yoruba word for joy. Set against the backdrop of the Bentley Dealership in Dallas and brought to life in just 45 days, this event became a masterclass in high-impact storytelling, elevated design, and mission-driven execution.

As event coordinator, creative director, and brand strategist, I led the full scope of the gala’s vision—from concept to execution. The result? An emotionally charged, visually stunning experience that left guests inspired, uplifted, and ready to give.

STRATEGIC APPROACH

The goal was clear: create an evening that embodied joy, luxury, and legacy—while staying deeply rooted in community.

To do this, I crafted an event strategy that elevated the gala far beyond a traditional fundraiser. The vision was to fuse opulence with purpose, creating a narrative where high design met heartfelt mission.

We achieved this by combining:

  • Immersive brand storytelling rooted in family, resilience, and reconnection

  • A color palette of golds, blacks, and reds, adorned with cascading roses to reflect the richness of the mission and the luxury of the setting

  • A curated guest experience that seamlessly balanced nonprofit values with elevated brand partnership, honoring Keeping Families Connected while aligning with Bentley’s legacy of excellence

The event wasn’t just beautiful. It was strategic, timely, and deeply human.

TACTICAL EXECUTION

FULL-SCOPE CREATIVE + STRATEGY IN 45 DAYS

  • Oversaw the full creative direction, event production, and on-site coordination of the gala under a compressed timeline.

  • Extended a cohesive visual and brand identity that honored the AYO name while aligning with the luxury of the venue and guests.

  • Curated the event run-of-show, including scriptwriting, staging, speaker prep, and production flow.

ELEVATED EXPERIENCE DESIGN

  • Coordinated a romantic, regal atmosphere using elegant gold, black, and red accents with cascading rose installations and candlelit tablescapes.

  • Strategically worked with a designer to ensure every visual touchpoint—from entrance photo ops to branded menus and signage—to reflect the prestige of both the nonprofit and the Bentley partnership.

INFLUENTIAL GUESTS & STRATEGIC PROGRAMMING

  • Secured local celebrity and high-profile attendees, including JKruz, DJ Don Perryon, Law Nation, Pep Talk Tae, and fashion designer Robert Lee Percy.

  • Featured a keynote speech by Dr. Renee Fowler, who brought a deeply personal perspective to the mission, moving the room to action.

  • Integrated entertainment and lifestyle elements to create dynamic flow throughout the night.

FUNDRAISING-DRIVEN ACTIVATIONS

  • Produced and facilitated a luxury auction featuring high-end vacation packages and artwork from local Dallas-based painters.

  • Wove mission moments into the evening to build emotional connection and inspire giving in real-time.

  • Achieved the event’s primary goal: funding a passenger van to support prison visitation trips.

RESULTS

The AYO Gala achieved measurable success—and lasting emotional resonance.

  • Fully funded the nonprofit’s transportation initiative to reconnect families with incarcerated loved ones.

  • Secured multiple community partnerships and sponsorship renewals for future events.

  • Amplified awareness of Keeping Families Connected’s mission across new networks and audiences.

  • Garnered strong post-event engagement, with guests and speakers sharing testimonials and content across platforms.

More than just a night of elegance, the AYO Gala proved that when design, direction, and storytelling are aligned, an event becomes a movement—and joy becomes more than a name. It becomes the legacy.