Sandhills Adult & Teen Challenge hosted a gala on Friday evening at the Fair Barn in Pinehurst, bringing together state, community, and county leaders, supporters, alumni, and families to celebrate transformed lives and the mission of recovery and restoration.
“The Fair Barn was as packed as I’ve ever seen it,” said Moore County Commissioner Tom Adams. “Almost $400,000 was raised for this great cause. Michael and Matthew Parker are really talented auctioneers.”
The evening’s keynote speaker, Beverly Vance Aikins, mother of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, shared a personal testimony detailing her journey through addiction, pain, and loss. Her message culminated in a reminder of hope and redemption as she celebrated a decade of sobriety and the rebuilding of her life at age 65.
Additional testimonies were shared by Jeremy Perry, a program graduate-turned-business owner who is now one of the organization’s largest financial supporters, and Heather C., a current resident from Moore County who was sent to Teen Challenge through Moore County courts. Heather, a single mother of an 8-year-old daughter, is scheduled to complete the program in June and hopes to reunite with her child. Both stories reflected the life-changing impact of long-term, faith-based recovery.
Executive and Board Leadership from Sandhills Adult & Teen Challenge expressed gratitude for the community support throughout the evening and emphasized the organization’s continued commitment to helping men and women find freedom from addiction and to restore their futures.
“The gala served not only as a fundraiser but as a celebration of transformation, perseverance, and renewed purpose,” said Sandhills Adult & Teen Challenge in a news release.
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Contributed article/photo.
