The Second Annual First Responder Support “You Have My Heart Gala” is set for Thursday, February 15, at The Atrium on Tenth. Doors open and social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale here.
The gala is hosted by former Columbia mayor Brian Treece and Mary Phillips, along with a lineup of Columbia and Boone County celebrities. The event is billed as “a celebration of courage and commitment dedicated to our Boone County heroes.”
The evening includes dinner, entertainment by police officer and nationally known comedian Vinnie Montez, live and silent auctions, and other celebrations of the community’s first responders.
Leaders from Boone County first responder organizations will be in attendance and attendees have an opportunity to participate in an online bidding process for seats at a table with some of Boone County’s top personalities.
In addition to Treece and Phillips, the celebrity hosts include:
- Dr. Stephen Barnes, professor of surgery and anesthesia and Chair of the University of Missouri Hugh E. Stephenson Department of Surgery.
- Brady Cook, University of Missouri quarterback most valuable offensive player and 2023 Cotton Bowl champion.
- Sean East, University of Missouri basketball leading scorer, 2022 NJCAA men’s basketball Player of the Year, and 2023 NABC honors court.
- Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey.
- University of Missouri prehospital services clinical manager Chuck Doss.
- Columbia Missouri Fire Department Chief Clayton Farr.
- Centralia Police Department Chief Harlan Hatton.
- Boone County Fire Protection District Fire Chief Scott Olsen.
- Columbia Police Department Chief of Police Jill Schlude.
- University of Missouri Chief of Police Brian Weimer.
Upgrade Your Experience
Bid on table celebrities. FRS celebrity table hosts offer a chance to bid on seats at the table with some of Boone County’s finest. Here’s how it works: Each FRS Celebrity Host has eight exclusive seats up for grabs. Bid to secure your spot at the table of your choice. You must have a general admission ticket to participate in the bidding.
For those looking to make a larger impact, sponsorship opportunities are available. Become a sponsor and join us in amplifying our mission. Explore sponsorship opportunities here.
Gala Impact in 2023: After the successful gala event in 2023, funds raised empowered FRS to implement the following programs:
Resilience Scholarship Launch: Introduced a scholarship offering up to $2,500 annually for mental wellness services to Boone County first responders.
Resilience Seminar Inauguration: Hosted an inaugural seminar with national speakers discussing the impact of critical incidents on first responders and their families.
Community Initiatives: Launched an online platform for inspirational stories, distributed supportive signage, produced impactful videos, organized the Shop With A Hero event, and distributed appreciation cards.
Mission Fulfillment
First Responder Support’s mission is to cultivate goodwill between first responders and the community, raise awareness about their challenges, and provide relief and support to these selfless individuals. With your help, we can deliver life-changing resources to our community’s heroes.
