May 18th, 2026
I love spring. It’s my favorite time of year. It’s as if the whole world shakes off the sleepy nap of winter. There’s buds of new life and growth everywhere. At New Horizons House, that’s true too. The mango trees on our safe house property are heavy with fruit, the sweet sustenance of spring that can also be dried and saved for food into the cooler seasons of fall and winter.
Back stateside, we also enjoy the treasures of the mango trees, but for us it is because it is time for our annual fundraiser “An Evening Under the Mango Trees.”The fruits from our gala will also help sustain the girls needs for holistic restoration and care. The evening was emceed by our own Rachael Eichhorn and this year was a vibrant celebration of survivors. Our guest speaker, Jenny Footle, shared her deeply personal journey as someone who suffered from childhood trauma and now has overcome to have a life of peace and purpose. Despite years of abuse and betrayal, I was struck by the purity in her joy of simple pleasures and the healthy relationships she now has.
“Freedom doesn’t come with a completion certificate. Instead, freedom is a journey that starts out as hard and scary, but can become life giving as you discover the depths of how you’ve been set free.”
– Jenny Footle
Four dancers from Jubilee Dance Collective delivered a poignant and deeply moving performance of transformation. The dance was the perfect space for reflection between our speaker and our auction.
The live and silent auctions offered a wide variety of experiences and products that were well received, many going for well above their listed value. We were blessed to have an audience that clearly came out to give to our girls. Ultimately, we raised tens of thousands of dollars and I am grateful for so much generosity and love in one room. If you could not make it “Under the Mango Trees”, you definitely missed out, but it’s never too late to join us to by giving through our Givebutter Campaign.
Keep your eyes open for as we set the date for next year. Thanks for your continued support in our quest for restoration.
With hope,
Jennifer DeChillo