​Virginia gala earns 2022 Event of the Year award. 

Following a stellar event and fundraising success, the Roanoke Cattle Baron’s Ball has earned the 2022 Event of the Year award. This national honor recognizes an American Cancer Society event that achieved remarkable success and had a great impact on our fundraising and development goals, including year over year growth.

The Roanoke Cattle Baron’s Ball launched in 2019 amid much excitement and big plans for growth. After being sidelined by the pandemic, the event celebrated great success in 2021 and made plans to nearly double revenue and attendance for the following year. Throughout last year, a diligent focus on growth led to the infusion of new people and relationships which translated to new dollars. An aggressive $250,000 event sponsorship goal was reached a month ahead of the actual event, and all hands were on deck to help curate and execute a stellar live and silent auction with double the number of auction items previously offered.

A moving mission speaker was critical to the success of the evening and board members approached a local mother who had lost her four-year-old daughter Rowan to acute myeloid leukemia 7. Rowan’s mom and 11-year-old sister took the stage as the featured mission speakers and recounted a heartbreaking and impactful cancer journey. To kick off the paddle raise, a piece of butterfly artwork was auctioned off, created in memory of Rowan by her sister. As a result of the personal story shared, the paddle raise brought in $108,000 restricted to pediatric cancer.

An event that turns a dirt floor horse arena into a gala space and comes away having smashed its event goal (raising more than $475,000), has left ACS team members, volunteer leaders, and community members extremely proud and excited for 2023.