LA CROSSE, WIS. — 2025 was properly ushered into existence with the proper amount of dancing, dining, auctions, fireworks, and champagne, thanks to the sponsors, organizers, and attendees of the 3rd Annual VARC New Year's Eve Gala. On December 31, 2024 the disability nonprofit VARC happily hosted their bevy of sparkling, elegantly dressed guests at The Waterfront's illustrious Cargill Room for the third year in a row, to experience an unforgettable night of merrymaking benefiting the children and adults with disabilities currently enrolled in VARC programming.
The organization raised a total of $68,500 for their cause, amassed through sponsorships, ticket sales, a live auction, and a special Golden Opportunity crowdfunding segment that concentrated on a separate goal to purchase a new ADA-compliant bus for the explicit daily usage of VARC's clients with varying abilities.
Star-studded headliners for this year's gala consisted of a blend of familiar faces and new arrivals. WXOW news anchor Dustin Luecke was warmly welcomed back as this year's master of ceremonies. Former Wisconsin Badger and Super Bowl Champion Travis Beckum once more took to the stage as DJ Four7, the gala's official disc jockey, spinning upbeat musical blends of modern tracks and legacy hits all night long. From her presence on CBS's Surviver: Nicaragua all the way back to La Crosse Wisconsin, VARC was thrilled to have auctioneer, speaker, and advocate Yve Rojas grace the stage and host the evening's live auction, lending her lively persona and effervescence to VARC's worthy causes.
The strong support of the community could be felt all throughout the night from the hearts of many folks and organizations, but mainly from VARC's long list of dedicated sponsors. VARC's gold-level sponsors presenting this event included the lofty company of Merchants Bank, The Weber Group, and Ledegar Roofing. Silver sponsors comprised of WBN Event Group, Organic Valley, and Alerus. Our bronze-level roster proudly features The Marcus Corporation, Mayo Clinic Health System, Altra Federal Credit Union, The Insurance Center, and Kwik Trip. Event-level sponsors this year were Dahl Ford of Onalaska, Z93 La Crosse's ZCare, and Wipfli.
President & CEO Liz Filter turned the spotlight outward during her welcoming address to the crowd, presenting the first-ever Inclusive Partner Award to Emplify Health. Last year VARC's relationship with Emplify blossomed during a successful joint venture centering around VARC's Preschool Childcare Center, acquired in January of 2024. Emplify stepped in at a critical juncture, providing support, resulting in VARC's childcare teachers receiving up to a 50% wage increase and a dramatic shift in employee quality and retention. Not stopping there, Emplify continued to advocate, educate, and collaborate on childcare catered to children with and without disabilities in the La Crosse community and statewide.
"Our partnership with Emplify Health has consistently demonstrated their belief in a world where inclusivity is the norm, not the exception," said Elizabeth Filter, President | CEO of VARC. Nathan Franklin (Vice President, External Affairs & Sustainability at Emplify) accepted this award on behalf of the organization and gave further remarks in an acceptance speech that reinforced Emplify's commitment to expanding inclusive childcare access in the communities it serves.
The Waterfront served a symphony of culinary flavors, starting with an inaugural course of hors d'ouvres on silver trays. Recently arrived guests kicked off the cocktail hour by sampling seared shoyu scallops on a wonton, red-wine poached pear, and blue cheese mousse crostini with wild honey glaze. VARC's specialty selected cocktail menu offered Paper Airplanes and Raspberry Lemon Drops, with a portion of their sales donated back to VARC's cause. Once formal table dining began, staff at The Waterfront served a Caesar salad featuring honey gem lettuce, Wisconsin parmesan, and a sourdough crumble topping. Attendees selected their main course from three options: pecan-crusted walleye, a 14-ounce ribeye steak, and a vegetarian option of spicy tomato rigatoni. For dessert, servers presented alternating turtle cheesecake mousse martinis and lemon blueberry mousse martinis.
After the evening's dinner and auction, DJ Four7 would open the night's dancing on the ballroom floor for the third year in a row. Blending old hits with new bangers, there was something for everyone to enjoy on the dance floor.
The explosive beats and booming bass were an appropriate prelude for the upcoming private fireworks display, coordinated just for the appreciation of VARC's New Year's Eve guests. Organizers and staff passed out shawls and ushered guests out to the Cargill Room's patio, where colorful explosions delighted observers as they gathered under the propane patio heaters. Couples could be seen huddled together in a romantic embrace, and groups of playful partiers donned sparkly gold-and-black New Year's hats, loudly blowing their own gold noisemakers within the deep booming of the fireworks.
After the explosive outdoor spectacle, guests returned back inside, ordered more rounds of the evening's specialty cocktails, and rejoined the commotion on the dance floor. As DJ Four7 led the countdown to midnight, guests raised their fresh glasses of champagne to the ceiling, where at the strike of twelve, balloons were released to shouts of "Happy New Year!"
The Third Annual VARC New Year's Eve Gala was a blowout success, and we couldn't be more thrilled or thankful. Our sponsors, auction winners, and attendees really came out for VARC's cause, and we did our best to give them one of the most magical nights out there. As 2025 dawns on VARC's 50th year of service to the community, we remain ecstatic about what's ahead, knowing that this is only the first celebration of many in the twelve months to come.
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