Another extraordinary Touchstone Awards Luncheon is behind us, and I still have goose bumps! For those of you who weren’t with us yesterday, let me paint you a picture. 

The day begins bright and earlier for our staff. The adrenaline (and vente coffee) kicks in to gear for the first few hours of set up. By the time the caffeine wears off, it’s time for the girls to arrive. Imagine 60 6-14 year-olds in matching t-shirts bounding off a bus in excitement. Our girls go on a lot of fieldtrips, but it’s their visit to the Touchstone Awards luncheon that they look forward to all summer. You can’t help but feed off their excitement. The girls get in place and guests start arriving.

As a guest you arrive, check in, and get your name tag and then a girl comes right up to you, sticks out her hand, and says “I’m _____. Do you want to hear what I did at camp?” That’s when the magic begins. 

Yes, the hand shake was rehearsed, but after that – it’s all the girls! Our campers tell guests about the programs they participated in at camp and what they learned. This is their time to shine, and they do. 

As lunch begins, you take your seat. Don’t get too settled! Our guests don’t just sit and enjoy a nice meal. Each table has Girls Inc. girls to interact with, activities to engage your neighbors, and small card for you to write your own inspirational quote to add to the growing collection on a ballroom wall. 
Thirty minutes later, your empty plate disappears, the amazing staff at the JW Marriott Indy has refilled your drink and you move onto a mouthwatering serving of turtle cheesecake (that is if you didn’t start your meal with it already.) A familiar face from WTHR Eyewitness News takes the stage and the program begins.

Our CEO takes the stage. This is the moment when I stop breathing. I know what’s coming – The Ask!

It is a common occurrence at fundraising events; someone will ask you for a donation. Our sponsors are amazing and we can’t thank them enough for stepping up to support us, but we have a mission and it takes a community to make it happen. 

Thanks to the generosity of Kroger and The National Bank of Indianapolis, each donation made at the Touchstone Awards was matched 2:1. Both corporations have pledged $5,000 each as a challenge to our guests. There is still time for you to help us meet the challenge. Make your donation by August 1st to count towards the match. 

I want to share a special thanks to all the staff and board members who made this year’s event happen. I especially want to thank Myra Borshoff Cook, chairwoman, and Andrea Morehead, event emcee, for their leadership. 

2012 Touchstone Awards Luncheon: 11 months, 29 days, and counting.