On Saturday, October 17^th, 2020, the Wegene Ethiopian Foundation held their Virtual Gala of Gratitude. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Wegene chose to hold their annual gala virtually. The gala is a wonderful tradition that helps support so many people, so I’m incredibly happy that it was able to occur this year despite the unprecedented times. The night consisted of an evening of entertainment, special guests, fundraising, updates, and gratitude. We listened to beautiful performances from Megnot Toggia, Betty G, and Abegaz Kibrework Shiota, as well as violinist Mestawet Aragaw. 

Throughout the night, we heard powerful and personal testimonials from the Wegene families we support in Ethiopia. We were able to learn about the impact that Wegene has on the families in our community and help spread awareness of Wegene’s mission of improving the daily lives of disadvantaged families in Ethiopia. The gala helped strengthen our sense of community and gave us hope during these difficult times. 

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the effort of putting on this virtual gala. Thank you to all the sponsors who supported the gala and Wegene’s mission. We would also like to thank everyone who bought tickets and watched the event. Your generous support is deeply appreciated. Here’s to 20 amazing years of rebuilding families one child at a time!

About the Author:

Natania Elias is a junior at Lake Braddock Secondary School and is the Marketing Chair of Wegene Youth Club.