Signature Fundraiser Celebrates Fourth Year of Supporting Food Insecure Children
Corporate sponsors, community partners, and individual philanthropists will gather at Turfway Park Racing and Gaming on Saturday, August 22 for GO Pantry’s annual Party for a Purpose, presented this year by Amazon, Newman Tractor, and the Sedler Family. Local 12 news anchor Sheila Gray will emcee. Now in its fourth year, the event helps the Northern Kentucky-based nonprofit launch a new school year of providing food to thousands of food-insecure school age youth.
Designed to be more casual than a traditional fundraising gala, Party for a Purpose goes light on the presentation and heavy on the fun. Guests spend most of their time mingling with friends and colleagues as they browse silent auction packages, try their luck at party games and the bourbon raffle, and gather in the photo booth for a memento of the evening.
And of course, for an organization with a mission of filling hungry bellies, special attention is paid to the food stations. The grazing menu this year offers everything from sliders, Hot Brown bites, and fajitas to a vegetable frittata, chicken and waffles, and churros – and those are just some of the options.
“One of my favorite parts of the evening is seeing people genuinely enjoying themselves with friends, then leaving feeling more connected to our mission and knowing they made a real difference for local children,” said Beth McIntire, GO Pantry Co-Founder and Executive Director. “Behind every game, every auction item, and every conversation is a child who does not need to wonder where their next meal will come from because this community chose to show up and help.”
GO Pantry began in 2012 when a group of friends collected food to help 7 kids in a local school. That effort has blossomed into a community-powered movement that feeds more than 1,300 kids each week in over 100 schools spanning 6 counties. As requests for help grow each school year, so does the organization’s need to grow its circle of philanthropists willing to invest in GO Pantry’s mission. Party for a Purpose has annually generated net revenue of more than $100,000 for the past 3 years, with attendance exceeding 300 guests in 2025. GO Pantry leadership hopes that trend continues.
“One of our biggest responsibilities is to be a voice for the kids we serve,” said Laura Dumancic, GO Pantry Co-Founder and Finance Manager. “This event is an opportunity for the wider community to hear firsthand about GO Pantry’s mission to feed hungry kids – and hopefully, feel motivated to join us in helping the kids who need us most.”
Individual tickets are still available for $125 and include admission, food, non-alcoholic beverages, and 2 drink tickets for alcohol (beer, wine, and liquor options). For event registration, raffle tickets, and silent auction bidding (beginning 8/17), visit https://goparty26.givesmart.com or text GOPARTY26 to 76278. Supporters who cannot attend can also participate in the auction and raffles; winners do not need to be present at the event.
For more information about GO Pantry or to volunteer with the organization, visit www.gopantry.org.
# # #
About GO Pantry:
Established in 2012, GO Pantry is a nonprofit organization that provides food to hungry kids in Northern Kentucky on days when schools are not open. Every school has students who rely on the Free & Reduced Lunch Program for meals during the school year. Over weekends and longer school breaks, many children lose their primary food source. The requests for help from GO Pantry have jumped 30% in recent years. GO Pantry supports 1,300 kids in over 100 schools on a weekly basis. The schools are located across 11 districts and 6 counties.
