Hope Flies High Annual Gala - We Rise Together

Date: Saturday, September 12th, 2026

Location: Utah State Capitol Rotunda

Time: 6:00 - 9:00 pm with VIP reception from 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Join us at the Utah State Capitol Rotunda, dressed in your best, for The Candy Bomber Foundation’s Hope Flies High Annual Gala, an inspiring evening honoring the enduring humanitarian legacy of Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen and the timeless truth that hope rises when people choose to serve together. This year’s theme, “We Rise Together,” reflects the spirit that carried a divided city through the Berlin Airlift, united a nation in moments of crisis, and continues to inspire communities today. When Gail Halvorsen tied candy to handmade parachutes and dropped them from the sky, he showed the world that small acts, done with compassion, can lift hearts and change history. That same humanitarian heart guides the Candy Bomber Foundation’s mission today.

Throughout the evening, guests will experience powerful stories that connect past, present, and future; from the Berlin Airlift, to modern humanitarian missions, to students learning that service before self can shape their lives and their communities. The program will highlight the Foundation’s youth programs, including Camp SOAR, Operation Candy Bomber, and Adventure Aerospace and STEM initiatives that help students develop leadership, innovation, and a sense of responsibility to the world around them.

Funds raised at the Hope Flies High Gala directly support the Candy Bomber Foundation’s mission and programs, including:

Hands-on STEM and aviation education for students
Service-learning camps and leadership development for youth
In-school programs that connect innovation to humanitarian impact
Equipment, curriculum, and outreach that expand access to opportunity
Continued development of the Candy Bomber Center, a future home for education, service, and inspiration

The Candy Bomber Center will serve as a place where history, innovation, and compassion meet; featuring learning labs, aviation and aerospace experiences, service-learning spaces, and exhibits that tell the story of how kindness can lift the world. It will stand as a living tribute to Gail Halvorsen’s belief that everyone, no matter their age, can make a difference.

By attending the Hope Flies High Annual Gala, you become part of that story. You help ensure that the values of Attitude, Gratitude, and Service Before Self continue to guide future generations. Together, we are creating meaningful impact for students, communities, and a world that needs hope more than ever.

Together, we rise.

Table Tickets Hope Flies High Gala 2025 (copy)

Launching a Future of Service and Innovation