Get Your Tickets Today:
2nd Annual Starlight Gala
Will be on Saturday July 12, 2025
This spectacular event is on July 12, 2025, 5 – 9 PM at Sessions Retreat & Hotel in Big Bear Lake, CA.
The Grace’s Place “StarLight” 2 Annual Gala is more than a fundraiser—it’s a celebration of resilience and renewal.
Join us for an unforgettable night filled with joy, community, live music, dancing, delicious cuisine, and heartfelt stories worth celebrating.
Here, purpose meets celebration, and every dollar raised directly funds the hands-on work that changes lives.
Whether you come to support, to celebrate, or to dance the night away, we promise this will be a night you’ll never forget.
Our transformational program “Freedom Beyond Abuse” that offers empowering tools to support women’s futures, launches again in September, serving women locally and impacting communities globally.
As Linda T. expressed: “The program gifted me invaluable tools to navigate life’s challenges. Grace’s Place empowers me to live my best life, breaking generational trauma for my family.
Every child deserves a future free from abuse.”
On July 12, 2025, our Starlight GALA provides 85% of our funding. This event is crucial for offering life-changing workshops, mentoring, and outreach that empower women and children to break free from abuse and create Hope for their future. Proceeds from this Gala will assist us in expanding our programs and acquiring a physical location to support our community and our future outreach.
Let’s Unite, Celebrate, and Change lives…for the Better!!!!
Here are some impactful ways you can support our mission to end abuse. Consider:
- Sponsorship Graces’ Place Foundation GALA
- VIP Tickets – Special Champaign, VIP Gift Bags, and Table Service
- Tickets Buy a ticket for yourself or someone else who can experience this spectacular GALA (Space is Limited, Get yours Today)
Your support will help expand our reach and provide essential resources for those in need. Any amount is appreciated. No amount is too small! Donate here.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you for joining us in this transformative cause to eliminate abuse on our planet in this lifetime.
Space is limited Buy your tickets TODAY—only 110 tickets are available!
Need a GREAT place to stay? Our venue, Sessions Retreats & Hotel, is offering a 15% Discount for those who need a place to stay! Use the link above to book your rooms NOW!
Past Event:
A HUGE Success!!! Thank you!
1st Annual Starlight Gala
Was Held on Saturday June 15, 2024

Grace’s Place Foundation’s 1st “Starlight GALA” was the event of the summer as there was a full house at Sessions Retreat & Hotel. Success! A dedicated community effort helped to bring the event to life. Janet Grace, founder of Grace’s Place, shared their vision of creating empowering programs and tools to help women and children rebuild their self-esteem, self-confidence, and envision their next steps in life. Most importantly, they aim to instill a strong determination so they “Never Go Back.” The “Starlight GALA” filled the venue with food, drink, celebratory music, a live and silent auction, and inspirational stories that tugged on everyone’s heartstrings and purse strings. Thanks to the generosity of the funds raised through auction items donated by our amazing Big Bear community, Grace’s Place Foundation is on its way to fulfilling its vision of a conscious community coming together for the greater good of women and children affected by domestic violence.
“Our event was a tremendous success,” Grace said, “And we couldn’t have done it without the support of our Big Bear community, our friends, family, and businesses.” The following is a list of donors to whom our Foundation extends heartfelt gratitude for making this inaugural event a success. A special mention of thanks to owners Frank Caruso & Sydney Smith of Sessions Retreat and Hotel, who donated the venue for the “Starlight GALA” — a beyond generous donation. Frank and Sydney also presented Grace’s Place Foundation a check for $1,700 raised through the Cub Crawl, the second fundraising event they produced, supporting many of the Big Bear restaurants that participated. We also extend our deepest thanks to our generous sponsors, Kristine Yoshida of Summit Dental, Dan Raddatz at Bear Valley Printing, and Dan Steadman & Ted Trentman of BigBear.TV.
Special thanks go to our Platinum Sponsors: Big Bear TV, Bear Valley Printing, Sessions Retreat & Hotel, and Summit Dental; Silver Sponsors: Elks Lodge, Lion’s Club, Moose Lodge, North Shore Improvement Group, Rotary Club, and Soroptimist; and Other Sponsors: AAUW, Big Bear Chamber, Big Bear Disposal, Big Bear National Ski Patrol, Bear Valley Community Hospital, Bear Valley Education Trust, DOVES of Big Bear Lake, Knights of Columbus, Sierra Club, Trails Association, and The Lighthouse Project.
Our gratitude extends to our Donors and Volunteers: 572 Social, Action Zipline, Alpine Slide, Altitudes Massage & Spa, Angel Velasquez, Animal Communicator, Apples Bed & Breakfast, Art in the Woods, Barrel 33, Bear Valley Printing, Big Bear Alpine Zoo, Big Bear Auto, Big Bear Cool Cabins, Big Bear Fire Department – Big Bear Firefighters, Big Bear Golf, Big Bear Home and Garden, Big Bear Lake Pet Supplies, Big Bear Marina, Big Bear Mountain Resort, Big Bear Mtn Brewery, Big Bear Prime Meats – Mike & Carol Chilcoat, Big Bear Ski Resort, Big Bear Snow Play, Big Bear Vacations, Big Bear Women Authors – Syd Blue, Lori Brookes, Janet Grace, Kristie Walker, Cabin Fever, Canna Massage, Captain John’s Fawn Harbor & Marina, Captains Anchorage, Carey Dunn, Chirp, Kristie Walker, Christina Marmolejo, Collective Rewind, Crows Nest, Daniel Mobile Massage, Dank Donuts, Debra Johnson, Debra Smith, Delagos, Divine Equine, Erin Smith, Facials by Carrie, Fawnskin Jewelry – Nancy Walker, Fun n Sun, Gift Shops – Matt Scriven, Goldsmiths, Gonzalez Garage, Hacienda, Holloway Marina, Hood Growers, Horse & Carriage Ride, Interiors – Tena Decker, Janet Grace, Jeanine Martin, Jeep Experience, Juniper Lounge, Kelly Ohlson, Kirby Custom Carvings, Knotts Berry Farm, Kristine Yoshida, Laurie Halverson, Legit Labeling, Linda Theirault, Lori Brooks, Lori Conrad, Los Angeles Angels – Rober Frasco, Moonridge Coffee, Mountain Meadow Seniors, Mountain Mobile Massage & Spa, Mountain Munchies, Mountain Room Escapes, Mountain Yoga Center, Murrys, Natures Elements, Nuts & Things or Nut House – Cindy Depree, Okooran, Peppercorn Grille, Queen Bee Store, Rebecca Hinton, Rileagh Chase, Rileagh T Chase Coaching, Robinhood Resort, Rustic Mtn Choc, Santana Mavericks, Scentsy, Self Heal with Liz, Session Retreat & Hotel, Sid Blue, Sister My Sister, Sonora/Old Country Inn, Staters Bros, Summit Dental, Super Store, Sweet Basil Bistro, The Copper Q, Vanessa Garcia, Village Sweet Shoppe, Vons, Walgreens, Wing Jeweler, Yoga Festival, and Yvonne Phillips. More loving thanks to Peggy Baldwin for her beautiful music that added to the ambiance of the evening.
To all attendees and volunteers, a heartfelt thank you! Without your support, this event would not have been the success it was. If you are interested in learning more about Grace’s Place Foundation or want to get involved in this great compassionate cause.
Supporting Our Local Big Bear Events:
Up Coming Events:
Big Bear Crawl

Saturday October 5th 2-7pm
Please note an additional email will be sent with all event information.

Big Bear Yoga Festival
Sat, October 5, 2024 – Sun, October 6, 2024
Big Bear Yoga Festival 2024
Two days of music, movement, health, food & fun! You can choose from lectures on health and wellness, a wide range of yoga classes, yummy food, live music and guided meditation along with lots of outside fun like hiking, browsing in Vendor Village, Kid’s Play Area, and more! Absolutely plan on coming, it will be phenomenal!
Festival Passes Include:
- Vendor Village Admission
- Free Parking at 630 Knickerbocker Road
- Free Shuttle to Big Bear Yoga Festival
- Outdoor and Indoor Activities and Classes: Lots of classes to choose from!
Kids 17 and under are FREE!