Your first charity gala: what happens at Hope in the Kingdom, from arrival to last dance

The evening in a few sentences

A charity gala is a formal evening that combines a dinner party with the mission of the organization hosting it. At Hope in the Kingdom: A Royal Ball, the annual gala for Leia's Kids, guests can expect dinner, dancing, special appearances by Princess Marygold, meaningful moments with families affected by childhood cancer and stories about the foundation's work. Dress is black tie with a royal purple theme. You do not need to be wealthy or experienced to belong there; you need to come ready to enjoy the evening and to listen when the families speak.

I help connect guests, sponsors and volunteers with Leia's Kids, a national 501(c)(3) based in McKinney that supports children and families facing childhood cancer. My career has been in hospitality, so I think about a gala from the guest's side: what you see when you walk in, when you sit down, and what you take home. This is that walk-through.

The details worth knowing first

The 2026 ball is on Friday, October 16, from 6 to 10 p.m. at Verona Villa, 6591 Dallas Parkway in Frisco. The foundation's gala page describes it as an evening that honors families impacted by childhood cancer and the loved ones who walk beside them, and it says the support raised helps Leia's Kids provide financial aid, dream experiences and more.

Tickets are sold online through the foundation's ticketing page, and VIP packages and sponsorships are available. If you are coming as a sponsor's guest, your host will usually handle the ticket and send your name ahead. If you are buying your own, do it early so your name is on the guest list and the kitchen knows you are coming.

Plan your arrival with a little room to spare. A Friday evening start means traffic, and walking in calm, with time to find friends and look around before dinner, sets the tone for the whole night. If you are carpooling with colleagues or clients, agree on the plan for getting home before you leave.

• When: Friday, October 16, 2026, 6 to 10 p.m.
• Where: Verona Villa, at the address above
• Dress: black tie evening, royal purple inspired
• Program: dinner, dancing, Princess Marygold, family moments, mission stories
• Tickets, VIP packages and sponsorships: through the foundation's gala page

What to wear to a royal purple black-tie evening

Black tie means a tuxedo or a dark formal suit with a tie for men, and a floor-length gown or an elegant formal dress for women. The royal purple theme is an invitation, not a requirement: a purple tie, pocket square, wrap, gown or piece of jewelry is a lovely nod to it, and plenty of guests choose black with a single touch of color. The foundation's gala page links to style inspiration if you want ideas.

Two practical notes from years of watching guests arrive. Wear shoes you can stand and dance in, because a gala involves more standing than people expect. And if you are bringing a guest who has never been to a black-tie event, tell them the dress code clearly and early, so nobody spends the week before scrambling. Evenings in a ballroom can swing between warm and cool, so a light wrap or jacket is worth bringing.

How the night usually unfolds

Most galas follow a similar shape. Guests arrive, check in and spend the first part of the evening greeting friends, meeting other guests and finding their table. Dinner follows, and the program is woven around it: a welcome, recognition of sponsors, and the heart of the evening, which is hearing from the people the organization serves. Then the room opens up for dancing and conversation until the close.

At Hope in the Kingdom, that heart is unusually personal. Princess Marygold, the character from the foundation's children's book series about a princess who survived childhood cancer, makes appearances. Families affected by childhood cancer share the room and the evening. When the first ball was held in September 2025 at Verona Villa, a Texas Senate resolution honoring it noted plans for a silent auction, an awards ceremony and inspirational stories from young people battling pediatric cancer. Each year's program is set by the gala committee, so check the current details if a particular element matters to you.

• Arrival, check-in and time to mingle
• Finding your table and settling in for dinner
• Welcome and sponsor recognition
• Family moments and mission stories
• Dancing and conversation until the evening closes

Want to be in the room this year or next?

If you would like to attend, bring a group or host a table, reach out. I can point you to tickets, explain the VIP and sponsorship options, and help a business decide whether a table fits. If you would rather help behind the scenes, the foundation also welcomes volunteers for the gala. Whichever way you come, I will make sure you know what to expect before you walk in.

Giving in the room, without pressure

First-time guests often worry about being put on the spot. A good gala does not work that way. Your ticket already supports the mission, and anything beyond that is your choice. Depending on the year's program, there may be ways to give during the evening, such as an auction or a moment to make an additional gift. Decide your comfort level before you arrive, and you will enjoy the evening more.

If there is an auction at a gala you attend, it usually works in one of two ways. In a silent auction, items are displayed with bid sheets or a mobile bidding page, and guests add their bids during the evening until a set closing time. In a live auction, an auctioneer calls out a smaller number of items and guests bid by raising a paddle or a hand. Either way, read the item description and any restrictions before you bid, so the trip, dinner or experience you win is one you can actually use.

If you plan to bid or give, it helps to understand the tax side, because part of what you pay for a ticket or an auction item reflects the value of what you receive. I explain the general IRS rules in what is tax-deductible about gala tickets and sponsorships.

The moments guests remember, and the courtesies hosts notice

Ask people about a gala a year later and they rarely mention the menu. They remember a parent describing the week their child's treatment moved to another city, or a young survivor laughing on the dance floor, or a child meeting Princess Marygold. They remember who they sat with and what they talked about on the drive home. That is the real point of the evening: it turns a cause into faces.

So stay for the family stories, even if the dance floor is calling. Introduce yourself to someone you do not know. If you came with a sponsor, thank them before you leave. If you want to understand more about what these families are living through before you attend, I wrote about what a childhood cancer diagnosis asks of a family.

Galas run on many hands and tight timing, and a few small habits make a difference to everyone in the room. None of these are rules; they are the things hosts and families quietly appreciate.

• RSVP and confirm guest names by the deadline
• Arrive near the start time; the program is planned around it
• Silence your phone during the family stories
• Be gentle with questions to families; let them share what they choose
• Thank volunteers and staff on your way out

Coming on your own is easier than you think

Plenty of guests arrive alone, especially those who have heard about the foundation from a friend or a colleague. If that is you, arrive early, when the room is still filling and conversations are easy to join. Introduce yourself at check-in and ask whether someone from the foundation or the committee can say hello. At dinner, your table is your instant circle; ask the people beside you how they came to be there, and you will hear some of the best stories of the night.

A cause like this one tends to draw people who are glad to welcome a newcomer. Many of them were first-time guests themselves not long ago.

If you are bringing a business

Companies that host a table get the most from it when they treat the evening as hosting rather than attending. Invite guests who will value it, tell them in advance what the night supports, and assign someone at the table to make introductions. Stay engaged through the program, and follow up with your guests the next week. If you are weighing whether a table or sponsorship makes sense for your company, I cover the decision in whether a gala sponsorship is worth it for a small business.

Teams that attend together often want to do more afterward, whether that is a volunteer day, a Christmas family sponsorship or in-kind support. That is a good sign, and it is worth planning before the glow fades.

What happens after the last dance

When the evening ends, the work it funded begins: grants to families, Royal Deliveries, retreats, Hope Library resources and Christmas dinners and gifts for local families. Leia's Kids publishes an annual impact report and shares family stories online, so guests and sponsors can see where the evening's support went.

If you attended and want to stay involved, or you missed this year and want to be there next time, reach out. I will help you find the right way in, whether that is a seat, a table, a sponsorship or a volunteer role.

Questions people ask me