Legacy Gala 2026 | ETHOS
An Evening of Celebration & Impact
Join The House of Darla on Saturday, August 1, 2026, for an unforgettable evening celebrating the young people, families, partners, supporters, and community leaders who make our work possible. Together, we will reflect on our journey, honor the impact we've made, and share our vision for the future as we continue creating opportunities that help young people live and lead successful lives.
📍 University of Bridgeport – John C. Cox Student Center Social Room 244 University Avenue, Bridgeport,CT 06604
🗓 Saturday, August 1, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Doors Open 5:30pm
Dress Code: Formal/Semi-Formal. We invite guests to come dressed in a way that feels confident, comfortable, and expressive.Whether that’s elevated, stylish, or a touch of personal flair.
Celebrate. Connect. Inspire. Impact.
This evening has been thoughtfully curated as a celebration of impact, inspiration, community, and togetherness. We invite community members, supporters, partners, alumni, families, educators, business leaders, elected officials, and friends of The House of Darla to join us for an unforgettable evening filled with delicious food and beverages, music, entertainment, inspiring stories, meaningful conversations, laughter, and opportunities to connect with others who share a commitment to investing in young people and strengthening our communities.
Together, we will celebrate the achievements of young people, honor the individuals and partnerships that have helped shape our journey, and share in a collective vision for the future. Whether you have supported our work for years or are learning about The House of Darla for the first time, we hope you will join us as we come together in celebration, reflection, and purpose.
In true House of Darla fashion, young people will play an active role in helping bring this vision to life. Through leadership opportunities, event planning, media production, storytelling, hospitality, and creative contributions, youth will be challenged to participate in the process, develop new skills, and gain valuable real world experience. Their involvement reflects our belief that young people are not simply recipients of opportunities, but active leaders, creators, and changemakers helping shape the future of our communities.
We hope you will join us for an evening that celebrates where we have been, recognizes the impact being made today, and inspires what is possible for tomorrow.
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Why ETHOS?
At The House of Darla, we believe that every young person deserves access to opportunities, experiences, relationships, and pathways that help them discover their potential and build a successful future.
ETHOS: An Evening of Celebration & Impact was created to honor the people, partnerships, and moments that have helped shape our journey while investing in the future of the young people we serve.
This evening is an opportunity to celebrate the growth, resilience, leadership, creativity, and achievements of the young people we serve, while also recognizing the dedication of our team, alumni, volunteers, partners, supporters, and community champions who help make this work possible. Together, we honor the individuals and collective efforts that continue to create opportunities, inspire change, and strengthen our communities.
As we reflect on where we have been and where we are headed, we invite our community to come together around a shared belief: when young people are equipped with the right support, opportunities, relationships, and encouragement, and when caring adults, mentors, educators, and community leaders invest in their success, they can lead, achieve, and create meaningful change in their lives, their families, and their communities.
The Legacy Gala is more than a fundraiser. It is a celebration of impact, a reflection of our values, and a commitment to building brighter futures through learning, mentorship, leadership development, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, wellness, and community connection.
Through your attendance and support, you help ensure that young people continue to have access to experiences that expand their horizons, strengthen their confidence, develop their skills, and empower them to pursue their goals.
Our Theme: ETHOS
The word ethos refers to the character, values, and guiding principles that shape who we are and how we show up in the world.
For The House of Darla, ETHOS represents our commitment to empowering young people, strengthening communities, fostering leadership, and creating pathways to possibility. It reflects the spirit of service, resilience, growth, and collective responsibility that drives our work every day.
On this special evening, we celebrate not only what has been accomplished, but also the values and vision that continue to guide us forward.