Gala Honors Founders and Celebrates its Impact

MIDDLETOWN – Fearless! Hudson Valley marked a powerful milestone at its Celebration of Hope Gala on Friday, April 17, at The Barn at Villa Venezia.

With over 350 tickets sold, the evening raised over $125,000, the largest amount raised at a single fundraising event in the organization’s history.

The event honored founders Lisa Daily, David Goggins, and Jacqueline Murray with the Legacy Award, recognizing the vision that began 40 years ago. What started as a small, grassroots effort has grown into a comprehensive organization serving thousands each year.

During the program, the founders shared reflections from those early days, offering a deeply personal perspective on the challenges, determination, and hope that shaped Fearless!’s (then known as Safe Homes of Orange County) beginnings. Their stories highlighted not only how far the organization has come, but also the enduring importance of community in sustaining this work.

The evening also featured the premiere of Fearless!’s 40th Anniversary video, highlighting the voices and contributions of past leaders and supporters, including former Executive Director Eileen Maddock (1987–1997), Shannon Wong, Sher Singh, Anne Harris, and many others who have helped shape the organization over the decades.

“Forty years ago, a group of courageous individuals came together with a vision: to create safety where there was fear, to offer dignity where there was silence, and to build a future where survivors would not have to stand alone. They didn’t just start an organization, they started a movement rooted in compassion, resilience, and unwavering belief in change,” said Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, Executive Director for Fearless!. “Legacy is not preserved by standing still. It is honored by growth, by courage, and by continuing to push forward even when the work is difficult. Forty years later, we are not simply remembering what was started, we are proving that it matters still.”

Fearless! extends its sincere gratitude to the evening’s sponsors, whose generosity made the event possible.

Special thanks also went to their Gala Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Michele Winchester-Vega and Lucy Gillmeier, for their leadership in bringing the event to life.