Ecker Center for Behavioral Health invites the community to attend its annual fundraising gala, ‘Celebrating Our Legacy, Embracing Our Future,’ on Thursday, December 7, 2024, at The Highland Loft in Elgin, IL.  The event will honor 70 years of service to the community, celebrate the people and moments that have shaped Ecker, and raise essential funds for Ecker’s expansion and transition to a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).

This elegant event will feature silent and live auctions, raffles, and the unique opportunity to ‘adopt’ a beautifully decorated holiday tree, which Ecker will donate to a community space or family in need.  Guests will also enjoy a multimedia presentation tracing Ecker’s journey—from its beginnings in 1955 to its bold vision for the future.

A Night to Make a Difference

“Our gala isn’t just a celebration—it’s a powerful opportunity to come together and make a meaningful impact,” said Dr. Daphne Sandouka, CEO of Ecker Center.  “With the support of our community, we will expand our services to ensure that no one faces a behavioral health crisis alone—offering individuals 24/7 support with someone to call (our 24/7 Crisis Line, 888-ECKER-50), someone to respond (our Mobile Crisis Response Team), and somewhere to go (our 24/7 Crisis Stabilization Program, accessible through the north door of our 1845 Grandstand Office)."

The funds raised will support Ecker’s expansion during its transition to a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), enhancing its capacity to serve more individuals and addressing the rising behavioral health needs within the community.

How You Can Help

Ecker encourages community members and businesses to participate by:

·        Purchasing Tickets: Join us for an unforgettable evening—reserve your tickets today!

·        Sponsoring the Gala: Showcase your business or organization while making a lasting impact on behavioral health initiatives.

·        Supporting Our Auction: Donate an item or bid on exclusive silent auction items from December 1st to 7th.  The auction is open to everyone!  Visit eckercenter.org/2024gala to preview items starting November 15th.

·        Adopting a Tree: Sponsor a beautifully decorated holiday tree to spread join in a community space or brighten the holiday season for a family in need.

·        Advertising in the Event Program: Promote your business or organization by placing an ad in our event program.

For tickets, sponsorships, donations and more, visit: eckercenter.org/2024gala.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Location: The Highland Loft, 168 E Highland Ave, Elgin, IL 60123 Tickets & Contribution Opportunities: eckercenter.org/2024gala Online Silent Auction: Open from December 1st through 7th.  Visit eckercenter.org/2024gala to preview items starting November 15th.  The auction is open to everyone—bid early and often!

About Ecker Center for Behavioral Health

For 70 years, Ecker Center for Behavioral Health has provided compassionate mental health and substance use services to the Elgin community and beyond.  Each year, Ecker serves more than 4,000 individuals directly and reaches 10,000 more through prevention and education initiatives.  With the transition to a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), Ecker is expanding its services to ensure that everyone in need can access the care they deserve—when they need it most.

Join Us – Together We Build a Brighter Future!

By attending or supporting ‘Celebrating Our Legacy, Embracing Our Future’ you are helping Ecker deliver life-changing care to even more individuals in our community.  Together, we can ensure that everyone has access to the behavioral health support they need—when they need it most.