Valley of Grace Presents: The Seventh Annual Dressy but Messy Fundraiser Dinner
BY HEIDI PRUITT
The Kokomo Post Staff
HOPE: Photos of individuals who have graduated from Home of Grace fill the letters spelling out Hope at 2021’s Dressy But Messy fundraiser.
Photo Provided | Clifford Signs
The seventh annual Dressy But Messy fundraiser to benefit Valley of Grace is returning to Northview Church at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 3, and you’re invited to join the impact.
“People tend to dress up to cover up addiction, but it’s pretty messy and people try to hide it,” said Joey Bennett, founder of Valley of Grace.
Valley of Grace is a 90-day faith-based addiction recovery ministry with a 12-bed, 40-acre facility center in Howard County, Indiana.
The dinner itself can get pretty messy, but so can addiction. There will be a catered dinner with food from beloved local restaurants — but no napkins or silverware to emphasize this analogy.
The Home of Grace, the program Valley of Grace was modeled after, is located in Mississippi. Bennett, who suffered from addiction himself, graduated from the Home of Grace in 2016. Afterward, he realized his dream of opening a similar faith-based addiction recovery program closer to home. In 2017, Bennett and his wife, Darcy, founded Valley of Grace as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
After years of fundraising, the Valley of Grace opened its own 40-acre location in rural Howard County in 2022. Men who are admitted to the 90-day program will receive classroom instruction, recreational work therapy, education programs and support programs for families affected by a loved one’s addiction.
The flow of this event may be different from what guests have experienced in the past and instead of a keynote speaker, this year’s post-dinner convocation will feature the graduation of someone from the program.
“Our graduations are typically on Fridays, so this year we are having one at the event. It’s neat to see them day one and then to see where they are by graduation,” said Bennett. “We see people in for 90 days and they do well and you hope they do the things you teach them, we’re about at 50 percent of people doing really well after this program. I’ve seen marriages, and jobs, but if we can just help one person, it’s worth it — it’s transformation at its finest.”
Bennett, who has a deep passion for helping people the same way he was helped, said he is thankful for the support from the community.
“It’s so near and dear and deeply ingrained in who I am,” he said. “Just the support is astounding to me, to see that people believe in not only Darcy and me, but the organization and what we’re trying to accomplish. We want to create a positive impact in the community. Everybody knows about the problem, so let’s be part of the solution.”
You can purchase tickets for the seventh annual Dressy but Messy Fundraiser at Northview Church in Kokomo. Doors open at 6 p.m. Friday Nov. 3, and tickets can be purchased for $50/per person by clicking here.
Attendees can participate in bidding on silent and live auction items that include Colts tickets, Savannah Banana tickets, a vacation getaway and a ton of local goods. To learn more about Valley of Grace, click here.
