100 dollars, 200 dollars, 250 dollars. Numbers climbed as auctioneer Lance Fullerton stood at a podium in Webb Hall and pointed to the raised numbers in the audience. A picture of Emporia State themed socks, a hat and even cornhole boards in a basket titled, “Emporia Pride” is projected across the screen behind the auctioneer.
Both numbers and morale were raised at Hope-A-Palooza on Oct. 17, an annual fundraiser put on by SOS, Inc to fund its programs. SOS, Inc. provides support for survivors of sexual and domestic violence, neglect and child abuse through a range of advocacy services.
Amid toasts to donors, catering and auctions, the night focused on benefitting those served by the organization.
“Not all communities have this,” said professor of applied sociology and SOS board member Rochelle Rowley. “I think that throughout the years they’ve done amazing work helping all types of people from all walks of life get through some of the most difficult situations.”
Organizations who play a role in supporting the Emporia-based nonprofit, like Lyon County State Bank, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and the Coffey County Attorney’s Office attended the event.
Janine Wagner, victim-witness coordinator for the Coffey County Attorney’s Office, was awarded “Agency Partner of the Year.” In her role as victim-witness coordinator, Wagner connects the attorney’s office with SOS to provide outreach services to victims.
Chuck and Diana Moore, who work in law enforcement and as a sexual assault nurse examiner respectively, have witnessed the impact of SOS on the Emporia community and beyond.
“SOS provides numerous resources for the public and we’ve used them numerous times,” said Chuck Moore. “They provide a lot of family support for when we were working cases.”
“SOS is vital to what we do to help the survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence,” Diana Moore said. “So we make a really good team and I’m glad to support them.
Though in-between all the fundraising and contributions to SOS stood a magician by the name of Ran’D Shine. At first it seemed a bit off to include a magician in the schedule to perform for such a fundraising event, especially a magician that came all the way from Philadelphia.
“Many people may be wondering, well, what is a magician doing at this type of event?” said Shine. “Well, it makes sense to me, because as magicians, we do the impossible. And what organizations like this across the country are doing, it’s doing the impossible. It’s transforming people’s lives.”
It’s ‘doing the impossible’ that brings magicians like Shine and organizations like SOS together. They both promote hope to others, he said.
“But this organization, the people, give (survivors of violence) hope, and when they give them hope, they see that they can overcome what they perceive as impossible,” he said. “So being a magician is just a metaphor for that, making the impossible possible, whether it’s something that’s happening in your life, a challenge, whatever that challenge may be, maybe a situation you’re in, but with hope, you can overcome what you perceive as an impossible challenge.”
