A Fabulous Fundraiser & Festival 2025

The Kentucky DREAM Donor Dinner and Storytelling Festival—A Celebration to Remember!

The Kentucky DREAM Donor Dinner and Storytelling Festival, held October 17–18, was nothing short of extraordinary. Over two days, our community came together to celebrate the power of story, share laughter and inspiration, and raise vital funds to support the mission of DREAM Grant County. What unfolded was a beautiful picture of cooperation—neighbors, friends, and supporters each offering their time, talent, and treasure to help DREAM continue creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with special needs.

Our Donor Dinner, hosted at the stunning Jean LaBeth venue, sold out completely—every seat filled, every table buzzing with excitement. Guests enjoyed an engaging silent auction where generosity flowed as freely as conversation. The evening’s special guest, nationally acclaimed storyteller Kim Weitkamp, kept the room laughing, nodding, and reflecting. Her stories reminded us why this work matters and how storytelling connects us all.

The momentum continued the next day at the Williamstown Performing Arts Center. Attendees spanned every generation—from local families to long-time story lovers to a wonderful group from our local nursing home who joined us for the afternoon session. The energy in the room was contagious.

The evening’s Grand Finale featured Stage Right Theater’s Rising Stars, whose talented young performers brought parents, siblings, and grandparents out to cheer them on. Their presence added a joyful, hopeful spirit to the entire event.

We were deeply honored to host four nationally recognized storytellers—Andy Offutt Irwin, Kevin Kling, Kim Weitkamp, and rising talent Rachel Pollock. Their performances captivated both hometown audiences and guests from beyond Grant County.

But the heart of the weekend was our volunteers. This event simply could not have happened without the generous hands and hearts that stepped forward. Volunteers came from every corner of our community—DREAM Grant County employees, retired and active special education teachers and assistants, the Grant County Homemakers, Williamstown Christian Church, and members of the Kentucky Storytelling Association. We even had a remarkable volunteer ASL interpreter ensure accessibility for our morning session. Every ticket purchased, every silent-auction item donated, and every hour spent behind the scenes moved us closer to our 2025 fundraising goals.

Because of you—our donors, volunteers, attendees, performers, and partners—DREAM Grant County is stronger than ever. Your support helps us continue offering meaningful, dignified employment to individuals with special needs, and we could not be more grateful.

Looking Ahead: Once Upon a DREAM, 2026!

We are thrilled to announce that planning is already underway for our 2026 fundraiser, Once Upon a DREAM: Dinner, Showcase, and Ice Cream Social! Mark your calendars now for June 20th, 5:00–9:00 PM, once again at the beautiful Jean LaBeth venue.

The evening will feature world-renowned storytellers Bil Lepp and Paul Strickland, along with a delicious meal catered by the beloved Brothers Barbecue. And yes—there will be ice cream!

Save the date, spread the word, and start making plans to join us for another unforgettable celebration of story, community, and DREAM’s mission.

Thank you for helping us DREAM big. We can’t wait to welcome you again next year.