More Than Bingo: A Night of Community, Generosity, and Changing Lives

On Friday, September 25th, our community came together for the 2nd Annual Shifting Gears BINGO Fundraiser, and what an incredible night it was! More than 170 people joined us for an evening of bingo, prizes, delicious food, and community spirit, supported by 15 amazing volunteers who helped make everything run smoothly.

Together, we raised over $15,000 to support young adults aging out of foster care without reunification, guardianship, or adoption. These young people often enter adulthood without the family safety net many of us take for granted. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we can continue providing the resources, guidance, and support they need to build stable, independent, and fulfilling lives.

To everyone who attended, purchased tickets, volunteered, donated, sponsored, or helped spread the word — THANK YOU! Your generosity made this night more than a fundraiser. It was a powerful reminder that our community believes every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed.

A Special Thank You to Our Event Sponsors

We are incredibly grateful to our event sponsors for investing in our mission and helping make this evening possible.

The CRM Center • Telegent Engineering • RTM Enterprise

Your support helps us continue changing lives and creating opportunities for current and former foster youth.

Thank You to Our Business Donors

Our bingo fundraiser would not have been the same without the generosity of the businesses and organizations that donated prizes, products, experiences, and services. We are honored to recognize each of these supporters:

SJT Plumbing HVAC • Horizon Cinemas Fallston • Kris Konstruction D.M.V. Division • Maryland Resource Parent Association • Amy L. Klinedinst with Tupperware • Ocean View Restaurant • ECS Mid-Atlantic • A Door of Hope Outreach Inc. • Senses & Synergy – Vibrational Wellness • Salt Works • Raise the Barre – Studio of Dance • Premier Protein • Limitless Fitness • One Life Fitness • TruBar • Mystical Moments Maryland Photography with Kayla Fernandez • Realtor Mary Bullinger • Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church • The Baltimore Area Chick-fil-As • Strive for Five Foundation • Bananas Foster • Exelon IT • Longwood Gardens • Turkey Hill • Wockenfuss • Toby's Dinner Theatre • Genova Farms • MixTiles • The Mirror Gallery + Studio • Smyth Jewelers • Venustas Heated Apparel • Hope in a Horseshoe • Philly Pretzel Factory

Your contributions helped create an exciting evening for our guests while supporting a mission that reaches far beyond the bingo hall. Thank you for standing with Shifting Gears and the young people we serve!

A Community Effort Worth Celebrating

A heartfelt thank-you also goes to our family members, friends, and community supporters who created beautiful baskets and donated items. The thought, time, and creativity that went into these donations made the prizes extra special and brought so much excitement to the evening.

We are equally grateful to our food donors who helped keep everyone fueled for a night of bingo! Thank you to Frito-Lay, Twiggs Treats, Aldi, and ShopRite for your generosity.

Our Amazing Caterer: Regina Hanke Anderson!

Regina was absolutely wonderful to work with and helped make our event even more delicious and memorable by providing the pit beef and turkey our guests enjoyed. We are so grateful for her generosity, enthusiasm, and support!

If you're looking for catering, check out Regina on Facebook or reach out to Shifting Gears for her contact information.

And, of course, a special thank-you to Twiggs Treats, our sweet-treat baker! Your delicious treats added an extra touch of sweetness to an already wonderful evening.

Fifteen Volunteers. One Community. One Important Mission.

Behind every successful event is a team of people willing to roll up their sleeves, give their time, and make things happen. We are so thankful to our 15 volunteers who helped bring our bingo fundraiser to life. From preparing for the event to supporting guests throughout the evening, your time and dedication made a tremendous difference.

We also extend our appreciation to every attendee who chose to spend Friday night with us. More than 170 people in one room, all supporting the same mission, is something worth celebrating!

Why Your Support Matters

At Shifting Gears, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to be in the driver's seat when creating a fulfilling life, regardless of their previous experiences.

Our mission is to transform the lives of at-risk young adults by providing personalized support, guidance, life-skills training, and innovative programs while they are in foster care and continuing that support after they age out.

We focus on four pillars:

• Stable Housing: Helping young adults find safe housing and furnish their places so they can begin building a home of their own.

• Employability: Providing resources, life-skills training, and support to help young adults prepare for and succeed in the workforce.

• Community Connectedness: Creating opportunities for meaningful relationships, mentorship, workshops, and activities that remind young people they are not alone.

• Personal Wellbeing: Supporting everyday needs and helping young adults build the confidence and stability to move forward.

For young adults leaving foster care without a permanent family, these resources can make a life-changing difference. The funds raised through our bingo fundraiser will help Shifting Gears continue meeting needs, opening doors, and walking alongside young adults as they navigate the transition to independence.

Thank You for Helping Us Shift Gears and Change Lives!

Our 2nd Annual Shifting Gears BINGO Fundraiser was a wonderful celebration of generosity, connection, and hope. Raising over $15,000 is an incredible accomplishment, and it would not have been possible without the businesses, donors, volunteers, families, friends, and community members who believe in our mission.

You helped make a difference — and we are so grateful!

Want to be part of what comes next? There are many ways to support Shifting Gears, from volunteering and sponsoring future events to donating essential items or making a financial contribution.

Together, we can help ensure that young adults aging out of foster care have access to the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to build a brighter future.

Changing Gears. Changing Lives. One young adult at a time.

With gratitude,

Shifting Gears