When voices of hope rise, hope blooms. Join us Feb. 20, 2026 for the Celebration of Hope, an evening that brings our community together to support life-changing services and help shape a more hopeful future for our neighbors across Oregon.
For more than 90 years, Catholic Charities of Oregon has shown up for people who need a hand. We have done it through economic ups and downs, changing political winds, and moments of real uncertainty. Through all of it, our purpose has stayed steady. We believe every person has dignity. We believe community matters. We believe we are called to care for our neighbors who are poor or vulnerable.
That commitment comes to life at the Celebration of Hope, our annual fundraising gala.
On Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, we will gather at the Hyatt Regency in NE Portland for an evening that brings our community together around something we all want more of right now. Hope that is real. Hope that shows up in action. Hope that grows when people decide to stand with each other.
This year’s theme is When Voices of Hope Rise, Hope Blooms. It is a reminder that hope does not happen in silence. It rises when people speak up, step in, and choose to be part of the solution. It blooms when compassion becomes something practical and shared.
Why this gala matters right now
Catholic Charities of Oregon provides life changing services at a moment when the external environment is filled with uncertainty. Political priorities change. Leadership changes. Public funding often follows those changes. Some years it expands. Some years it tightens.
Right now, it is undeniable that public funding is diminishing.
But the demand for our services does not wax and wane. People still need stable housing. Families still need food and support. Refugees and immigrants still need trusted guidance and a safe place to rebuild. People experiencing homelessness still need dignity, warmth, and a path forward.
Our job is to stay ready. Our job is to be agile. We have to respond to what is happening in real time because the needs in our community do not pause while budgets and priorities shift.
The Celebration of Hope is an important step in our ongoing efforts to restore fiscal stability to the organization. It helps us strengthen the foundation so we can keep meeting the moment and serve more people when the need grows.
Grounded in Catholic social teaching
What never changes at Catholic Charities of Oregon is our commitment to Catholic social teaching. It centers the dignity of every person. It values community and solidarity. It calls us to care for people who are struggling and to stand with those who are too often pushed to the margins.
Those values are not tied to any political cycle or religious affiliation. They are the backbone of our work. They shape how we serve. They remind us why we do what we do, even when the landscape around us is shifting.
A tradition with deep roots
The Celebration of Hope has a history worth remembering. Catholic Charities organizations across the country have long held annual gatherings to raise funds and bring communities together. In Portland, the first Celebration of Hope gala took place in 1993.
That event happened because Auxiliary Bishop Paul Waldschmidt saw the power of bringing people together for a mission. He invited Ann Teresi, a University of Portland graduate and dedicated volunteer, to help lead the effort. From that moment, Friends of Catholic Charities was created.
Around 100 people gathered for that first dinner. The keynote speaker was Holy Cross Father Theodore Hesburgh, the former president of the University of Notre Dame.
The following year, the event moved to Portland Meadows. Guests leaned into the fun and the purpose. They bet on horse races and they gave generously. There were 388 guests, and together they donated about $60,000.
Over time, the gala grew in both size and impact. In 2015, Celebration of Hope reached a major milestone and surpassed $1 million raised in a single year.
Join us and help hope bloom
Celebration of Hope is more than a night out. It is a chance to be part of something steady and good. It is a chance to stand with neighbors who are navigating impossible decisions. It is a chance to help Catholic Charities of Oregon keep showing up, no matter what changes outside our walls.
On Feb. 20, 2026, we hope you will join us at the Hyatt Regency in Northeast Portland. When voices of hope rise, hope blooms. We would love for yours to be part of it.