The Bridge Family Center will host the annual Children’s Charity Ball at the Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford on Jan. 31, 2026.

By Ronni Newton

The theme of the 2026 Bridge Family Center’s Children’s Charity Ball is “A Sky Full of Stars,” and organizers are hoping that supporters will show their heartfelt support for the nonprofit’s signature fundraiser, now in its 27th year.

The planning committee has been meeting each week for months in preparation for this year’s event, which returns to the Hartford Golf Club, 134 Norwood Road, West Hartford, after being held elsewhere for the past two years while the clubhouse was being renovated. Organizers said they have always loved the Hartford Golf Club venue, and are glad to be back.

This year’s event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, from 6 p.m. until midnight.

The event, which will be emceed by Scot Haney of WFSB, will feature unique live and silent auctions, dinner, speakers, and dancing. Cocktail attire is suggested.

For more than a quarter of a century, the Children’s Charity Ball has been a highly anticipated social event in the West Hartford community. The incredible generosity of hundreds of sponsors, attendees, and donors has helped to raise well over $5 million dollars to fund the vital programs and services the Bridge offers to further their mission of supporting “Every Family. Every Child. Every Time.”

Rick Deurloo, president of Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines, and Kate Deurloo, global senior manager of LEGO Group, return as honorary chairs of this year’s Children’s Charity Ball. RTX is the presenting sponsor.

Tickets, which are $200 each, can be purchased online here.

Headquartered in West Hartford, the Bridge Family Center is “a comprehensive, regional nonprofit agency that provides a broad range of services for children and families throughout the Greater Hartford area. Founded in 1969, the Bridge offers a safe haven for children and families in crisis as well as positive, healthy intervention and prevention programs,” the website states.

“The Bridge continues to meet the evolving needs of our community. Sadly, the number of teens and adults seeking support shelters, clinics, schools, and Family Resource Center continues to rise. Many are anxious, overwhelmed, and hurting. They deserve safety, compassion, and the chance to heal – and that is exactly what The Bridge provides,” states the website.

Services have expanded over the years and include mental health counseling, residential facilities, parent education and early childhood literacy programs, and a variety of additional programs for youth and families, many of which are school-based. The Bridge is governed by a Board of Directors, employs roughly 175 staff, and is assisted in its mission by more than 150 volunteers.

In addition the Ball, the Bridge’s budget is funded through private donations from individuals, foundations, corporations, and organizations; the Town of West Hartford; the State of Connecticut Departments of Children and Families (DCF) and Education; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

More information can be found on the Bridge’s website.

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