An upcoming gala will fund a local Christian organization that offers tools to those experiencing or facing imminent homelessness to get their lives back on track.

The Lighthouse Foundation’s 10th annual Soaring for Hope Gala will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township.

Victoria Spreng, executive director at The Lighthouse Foundation in Middlesex Township, said the fundraiser will benefit all ministries, but will mainly help fund the foundation’s transitional housing ministries.

“The goal of $100,000 is about one-third of the budget for our transitional housing ministries,” she said.

That ministry offers options to those struggling with homelessness by offering eligible people or families 18 months in one the foundation’s transitional housing units in Butler.

While they will have stable housing during that period, they also will receive financial and life skills training, as well as assistance with the needs that come along with getting one’s life back on track, like rides to get a driver’s license or visit the doctor.

“Clients work with a residential manager and case manager to create long-term and short-term goals to work toward self-sufficiency,” Spreng said.

Clients also are held accountable for moving toward those goals without falling back into bad choices, whether through drug testing, curfew checks, money management, welfare checks or other methods.

The program also includes assistance for men in recovery who may have stepped down from an addiction program or house.

“They are still in need of a little bit of support in their recovery journey,” Spreng said.

The foundation has eight single- and double-parent residences, three for single women, three for single men, and four for men in recovery.

All units have a residential manager who lives on site to ensure safety and security, and to carry out necessary checks and testing or provide clients with rides to their appointments.

“We really want to come alongside someone and provide the resources they need,” Spreng said. “The goal is to love them right where they are, just as Jesus loves us.”

She said clients are normally referred, often by Catholic Charities because they are the centerpoint for helping homeless people in Butler.

“I’ve worked in different counties, and working in Butler County and seeing the collaboration and camaraderie (between organizations) is really inspiring,” Spreng said. “It represents what a team looks like and I’m proud to be in Butler County.”

The Lighthouse also offers a food pantry, a free Christmas shopping venue for disadvantaged parents, financial assistance and classes, and other programs for those with needs in Butler and Northern Allegheny counties.

The Soaring for Hope Gala on Sept. 13 will be the last one with that theme, and Spreng hopes it goes in the record books as the most lucrative one in the gala’s decade of existence.

“Next year is our 40th anniversary, so I think we will transition to a new theme for a new season,” she said.

She said Soaring for Hope started in 2014 in a hangar at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport in Penn Township.

Spreng attended, as it was her first year with The Lighthouse Foundation.

“It was beautiful and we’ve continued it for 10 years, but as a board, committee and staff, we have the opportunity to transition to a new theme and a new sense and season of hope looking toward the future,” she said.

She said the upcoming gala is $125 per person, or $1,250 for a table of 10.

A dinner and dessert, entertainment by Washboard Tony, a fundraising game called “The Lucky Puck,” a basket raffle with 20 to 30 themed baskets, and two high-end raffle items will be featured at the gala, Spreng said.

She said organizations and businesses create and donate the baskets for the gala each year.

“It’s a huge blessing to us, truly,” Spreng said.

She said speakers will include those who have gone through the transitional housing program and found success.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to see God’s work and see people’s lives changed,” Spreng said. “It truly is a blessing to hear their testimony, because they are sharing a piece of their story, which takes vulnerability, trust and being bold, so I am inspired by them.”

Kurt Carlson is managing director at the Carlson Group, which is part of the nationwide firm Baird Private Wealth Management.

His firm, through Baird, has been the lead sponsor of the foundation’s annual gala for the past two years.

“If there is any way we can leverage what we do to get their name out there, we’ll do it,” Carlson said. “They do such a wonderful things for Butler (County) and northern Allegheny County.”

He said he learned about the vital work going on at The Lighthouse Foundation in a unique way.

“It holds an extra special place in my heart because my mom, Audrey Carlson, volunteers there every day. It’s sort of like her purpose in the community,” Carlson said. “She goes every day to help open and close, and takes a few meals afterward to people who can’t drive. She’s 85.”

Because she is usually assigned to the table with the sweets and pastries, she has been dubbed “The Sweets Lady” by staff and clients at The Lighthouse.

He said as part of Baird’s annual program to assist nonprofit organizations across the country, the staff at the Carlson Group volunteer at The Lighthouse twice a year.

“Over the years, we’ve gotten to know more about the wonderful things The Lighthouse does, and we’ve adopted them as kind of our community charity outreach,” Carlson said.

He said as an expert in personal finance, he is seeing a greater and greater disparity between those who are financially comfortable and those who struggle to make ends meet.

“They sort of live in two separate worlds,” Carlson said.

He said as the numbers of those struggling to feed or provide housing for their families grow due to inflation, organizations like The Lighthouse see more and more need.

“When you go to The Lighthouse, it kind of tugs at your heart that there is a need out there and people are struggling and need help.

“Sometimes we get so caught up in work and family and you don’t think about it.”

He encourages everyone who is able to donate to The Lighthouse so its essential programs can continue.

“We consider it a privilege to be a sponsor,” Carlson said.

More information, plus a way to donate or buy a ticket to the upcoming gala, is available at thelighthousepa.org.