November 15, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – On Saturday, October 5th, the Eight Eleven Foundation hosted its annual charity auction and fundraising event at the national headquarters for the Eight Eleven Family of Companies in Indianapolis, Indiana. Thanks to the generous support of our attendees and sponsors, we doubled our fundraising goal for the evening! In addition to being able to maintain our current initiatives focused on the three pillars of the People of Eight Eleven, Education, and Social Conscience, this funding will help expand the reach and magnitude of the support we provide.

Captain’s Log: Traveling Around the Eight Eleven Universe

Although this is only the third year, the foundation continues to add new twists including a new theme and different format from last year’s event. With the theme of “Around the Eight Eleven Universe,” nearly 200 attendees got to explore the organization’s headquarters while experiencing tasting options and auction baskets highlighting some of the most coveted items from our 32+ markets nationwide.

In total, 19 of Central Indiana's most celebrated culinary artists and restaurants filled the five floors of our headquarters with small bites and tasteful samplings. Attendees paired these culinary creations with handcrafted drinks from local breweries, wineries, and the best bartenders in the city. In addition to these food and beverage vendors, guests also could purchase custom accessories, courtesy of Hawley Trucker Hat Bar – Indy and HopeAnchor & Crew, further benefitting the Eight Eleven Foundation.

Each floor showcased our vendors’ skills, and some of the foundation’s impacts over the last two years, leading guests to the rooftop for a celebration under the stars. Live entertainment by the Jay Jones Band and Will Causa ensured our supporters kept the party going until 11 pm as they danced the night away. However, it wouldn't be a true fundraising event without the charity auction featuring a mix of one-of-a-kind baskets and experiences – featuring 40 live and silent auction baskets. Some big-ticket auction items included the LIV Indy 3-Day Stay at a House in 30A, Blind Zebra’s “NFL: Referee Experience Package”, and a Kinloch Golf Club Trip for Three.

More Fuel for the Foundation

Beyond the glitz and glam of these fundraising events, the true driving force behind the foundation is the tireless work of our volunteers and the inspiring stories of their impact. In 2023, the Eight Eleven Foundation provided a new home for Fred Yeakey and his Barbershop Male Mentoring Initiative by renovating an unused classroom of Providence Cristo Rey High School (PCRHS) to mimic a real barbershop. The Barbershop Male Mentoring Initiative is a professional development program that pairs free haircuts and rotating guest speakers to mentor underprivileged youth and empower them to thrive.

Another great way the foundation supports additional Cristo Rey High Schools and provides additional professional development to its students is through the Corporate Work Study Program. The Eight Eleven Foundation is an exclusive partner with Cristo Rey High Schools nationwide, career prep high schools that offer a transformational educational experience to the untapped minds of underprivileged communities. Most families are only able to afford roughly $300 per student in tuition costs, so the Cristo Rey network heavily depends on its corporate partners and Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) to fund its operations. Through the CWSP, students gain real-world experience and pay for their tuition by working as interns for the Eight Eleven Family of Companies. In 2023, the foundation was able to sponsor four students in Indianapolis, however, this year we expanded our support to the cities of Tampa, FL, Philadelphia, PA, and Minneapolis, MN for a total of 8 students being sponsored nationwide!

One Last Thank You

It can never be stated enough that initiatives like these would not be possible without our wonderful volunteers, generous sponsors, and, of course, our amazing supporters! This year’s fundraiser was a smashing success, with nearly all our auction items being sold and our fundraising doubling our goal for the evening. We greatly appreciate everyone who attended the evening and helped make it possible. If you were able to attend, we hope you had as much fun as we did. We look forward to another successful event next year, and we can't wait to see the impact we continue to make, together!

A Special Thank You to Our Event Sponsors

More Photos from the Event