(Joplin, MO) – Lafayette House had two major reasons to celebrate this spring. On Friday, April 10, the organization hosted Ooh-La Lafayette 2026: Written in the Stars at Downstream Casino Resort, raising $374,788 in a single evening, the most the event has generated in its 16-year history. The same night, Lafayette House unveiled its new brand logo to the public for the very first time, a milestone that was deeply rooted in the voices of the people who serve this community every day.
Ooh-La Lafayette has grown into one of southwest Missouri’s most beloved annual gatherings, and this year’s event surpassed every expectation. The room was electric from start to finish, filled with passionate supporters, generous sponsors, and a live auction that drew extraordinary energy and investment from the crowd. Lafayette House is especially grateful to the owners of EaglePicher for their generous match donation during the live auction, a moment that elevated the entire evening and multiplied the impact of every bid placed. Every dollar raised will go directly toward serving individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and substance use disorders across a seven-county region, at no cost to those in need.
None of it happens without the Ooh-La Committee. This dedicated group of volunteers pours their time, creativity, and passion into every detail of the event, from planning and logistics to showing up on the night with infectious enthusiasm that sets the tone for the entire room. They do the work, they bring the energy, and they make it fun, and Lafayette House is deeply grateful for every single one of them.
“I have been part of this event for many years, and I have never felt anything quite like what happened in that room,” said Susan G. Hickam, CEO of Lafayette House. “The generosity, the laughter, the energy, and the love for the people we serve, it all came together in a way that reminded every person in that room why this work matters. We Save Lives is our affirmation, and we mean it. When you show up, when you bid, when you sponsor, when you give, you save lives too. This community saved lives on April 10, and we are grateful beyond words.”
“Honestly? We knew this year was going to be special, but $374,788 still made my jaw drop,” said Chelsea Conley, Chief Development Officer at Lafayette House. “That number represents years of relationship building, sponsors who keep showing up because they genuinely believe in this work, and a community that gets louder and more generous every single year. The Ooh-La Committee deserves a standing ovation because they pour their whole hearts into this event and somehow manage to make it look effortless and wildly fun at the same time. To every sponsor, every bidder, every guest who was in that room, you are the reason this works. We do not take that lightly, and we never will.”
The evening also marked the public debut of Lafayette House’s new logo, a moment that carried special significance for the organization. The new identity grew directly out of Lafayette House’s strategic planning process, during which staff were invited to weigh in on how the organization presents itself to the world. Staff voted, shared feedback, and shaped the final design from the ground up. The result is a logo where the letters L and H come together to form the image of a house, a simple and powerful visual that says exactly what Lafayette House has always been: not an institution, but a house filled with warmth, safety, and unwavering support.
“This logo is the culmination of who we are and who we represent,” said Eli Moran, Chief Strategy Officer at Lafayette House. “It did not come from a boardroom or a branding agency. It came from our people, through a process that asked them to think deeply about our identity and what we stand for. When you look at that logo and see a house, that is exactly the point. We are a house, filled with unwavering support, and now the world can see that at a glance.”
Lafayette House extends its deepest gratitude to the Ooh-La Committee, the sponsors, donors, auction participants, and guests who made Ooh-La Lafayette 2026 an unforgettable evening. Thanks to their commitment, the organization can continue offering emergency shelter, crisis services, counseling, legal advocacy, recovery programming, case management, daycare services, residential treatment programs, and more to those who need it most, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
To learn more about Lafayette House or to make a gift, click here or call 417.782.1772.
About Lafayette House:
Lafayette House is a private non-profit organization serving adults, children, and families experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or substance use disorders. The organization serves 1,200 people each year from a seven-county area in southwest Missouri.
Reference:
Chelsea Conley, Development Director
Lafayette House
417.782.1772
chelseaconley@lafayettehouse.org
Be the first to comment