Purchase Your Ticket for Circle 2026
Thursday, October 29th from 11am-1pm at the Mirro Center
Circle began with a group of women who had an idea to raise funds for YWCA’s domestic violence shelter. They wanted 100 women to come together and each donate $100. At that time in the late 90s, few believed that women had the financial capital to come together and put on a successful fundraising event. The doubters were proved wrong: Circle was immensely successful and continued on as a women-only fundraising event for at least a decade. In the mid-2000s, men were invited to join Circle for the first time.
The goal of Circle has always been to provide a circle of financial support for individuals and their children experiencing domestic violence in northeast Indiana. Circle raises both awareness and funds for YWCA’s life changing domestic violence services.
Circle 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026 from 11am-1pm at the Mirro Center
Purchase Your Ticket
You can purchase your ticket by visiting our registration page.
Host a Table
Will you host a table at YWCA’s Circle Event? As a Table Host, we ask that you invite members of your network to join you at the luncheon, and to help influence support for YWCA.
Table Hosts are standouts because they are integral to the success of Circle and have the goal to (literally) bring people to the table who would be willing to learn more about YWCA’s mission and make a financial contribution to support YWCA’s domestic violence services.
When registering for the event, you can choose to purchase an entire table (8 seats), a half table (4 seats), or you can send an email to us to let us know you have registered and have invited others to join you at your table.
Learn more about hosting a table here.
Become a Sustaining Circle Donor
Our clients come to us from domestic violence situations, often fleeing crises inside their homes. When they arrive at our crisis shelter, Bonnie’s House, clients find a circle of support that includes one-on-one advocacy services, onsite therapy, housing coordination, support groups, services for children, and more.
We invite you to join this circle of support by making a gift and becoming a member of our Sustaining Circle. All Sustaining Circle donors will be recognized at the event and your donation includes registration to this year’s event. Please send us an email with your pledge or any questions.
Advocate: $3,000+ Visionary: $1,500 – $2,999 Leader: $1,000 – $1,499 Partner: $500 – $999
Give online here.
If you prefer to donate by check, please make your check out to “YWCA Northeast Indiana” with “Circle Donation” on the memo line, and mail it to:
YWCA Northeast Indiana
Attn: Thanh Riehm
1313 W Washington Center Rd
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
Find more ways to give to YWCA here!
The Peggy Hobbs Service Award began in 1977 with the intent to honor a woman of outstanding personal development, achievement, and dedication as a volunteer. YWCA Northeast Indiana continues Peggy’s legacy by presenting the Peggy Hobbs Service Award to a woman who embodies the passion, commitment, and dedication of Peggy Hobbs at YWCA’s annual Circle event.
Nominations are currently being accepted here.
Pictured: Paula Hughes-Schuh (CEO, YWCA Northeast Indiana), and Paula Kaufman (2025 Peggy Hobbs Award Recipient)
Showcase your company’s community values with an event sponsorship!
Send us an email to learn more about becoming a corporate sponsor for our 2026 event.
Sponsors are not required to fill any or all of the seats at their table(s). YWCA is happy to help sponsor their table(s) and will work with sponsors ahead of the event to ensure table seats are able to be filled. Take a look at our Circle Sponsorship Packet for 2026 to learn more.
Thank you to our 2026 top level Justice Sponsor:
Speakers for the 30th Annual Circle Luncheon
Paula Hughes-Schuh
CEO, YWCA Northeast Indiana
Paula has served as the CEO of YWCA Northeast Indiana since 2017. Under her leadership, the organization has seen continued growth leading to the move into a new building in 2024.
Jonnie Gerardot
Resource Development Coordinator, United Way of DeKalb County
Jonnie has been actively involved in efforts to address domestic violence within her community and has served as President of the DeKalb County Domestic Violence Task Force since 2024. In this role, she works alongside community partners and survivors who are committed to increasing awareness, strengthening resources, supporting survivors, and helping build a safer community for everyone.
Jonnie's passion for domestic violence awareness is both professional and deeply personal. She is a survivor of domestic violence, and her lived experience has shaped her commitment to speaking openly about domestic violence, breaking the stigma surrounding it, and helping others understand that abuse can happen to anyone. She believes that sharing stories, educating communities, and creating supportive networks can help survivors recognize that they are not alone and that a life beyond abuse is possible. Above all, Jonnie is a wife and mother, and her family is at the heart of why this work matters so deeply to her. Being a mother is one of the most important and meaningful roles in her life.
Jama Ross
Executive Director, Blessings in a Backpack
A passionate advocate for the marginalized, Ross has served the nonprofit community for over 20 years. Currently serving as the Executive Director for Blessings in a Backpack, her focus is community collaboration to end food insecurity in Allen County. Ross is also an award-winning local journalist, serving as an opinion columnist for The Journal Gazette to bring awareness to humanitarian issues, including drawing from her own experiences as a survivor of domestic violence.
Her proudest accomplishment is being a mother to her seven children.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Expect:
- An inspiring showcase of YWCA’s domestic violence program and impact on todays pressing issues and longtime community needs
- Networking with other supporters, community leaders, and business leaders passionate about taking action to make a difference in our community
- Honor the recipient of our Peggy Hobbs Award
- An exciting donation moment to fuel our important work for survivors of domestic violence
Our emcee will take us through different donation levels and guests can donate via phone. We will watch as the thermometer on the screen inches closer to the end goal.
Your support is what fuels our programs and services, and we could never do what we do without your help!
Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP)
YWCA uses The Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) credits with the goal to increase funds for Sustaining Circle Donations. To fulfill this objective, we will be awarding credits to those who increase their gift over their most recent Sustaining Circle donation. Your increased gift will be instrumental in helping us meet the demand for domestic violence services, and your gift would be eligible for NAP credits on a first come, first serve basis.
Employee Matching
A matching gift program is a kind of corporate philanthropy in which a company’s charitable contribution “matches” that of its employees. Employee donation matching programs often have eligibility rules. They might be open to all employees, but matching gift guidelines may note different requirements or match ratios for part-time employees, retirees, or contractors. To see if your employer utilizes gift matching, check with your Human Resource representative.
Please send us an email regarding all matching gift inquiries.
We invite you to dress to feel your best and wear purple in support of domestic violence awareness month.
Thank you to our 2026 top level Justice Sponsor:
See recaps of past Circle events:
