A Night to Remember: Reach for the Stars 2026
What a night! Our 42nd Annual Reach for the Stars Dinner Auction was a wonderful celebration of 60 years of the Key Training Center and the incredible community that has supported us along the way.
Together, our guests, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters helped raise more than $171,000 to support the individuals we serve and the programs that help them live meaningful, fulfilling lives.
The evening was filled with great food, entertainment, laughter, and plenty of familiar faces. We are especially grateful to the Lecanto High School Baseball team, led by Vigil Matos and David Lague, for volunteering their time to help serve dinner, and to Leon McClellan for preparing a wonderful meal. Ariel Dragons also helped make the night memorable with their exciting stilt walkers and violinist!
Celebrating Our Community
One of the most special parts of the evening was recognizing people who have made a lasting difference at the Key.
Austin Hooker received the Runner of Excellence Award for 10 years of dedication to the Run for the Money. We also honored the late Patrick Thomas with the Citizen of the Year Award, recognizing his unwavering support of the Key and the people we serve. His cousin, Monica Adams, accepted the award on behalf of the Thomas family. We were also proud to recognize the Citrus County Chronicle as our Organization of the Year for their many years of coverage, partnership, and support of our mission.
And the Run Begins!
The Dinner Auction also kicked off the 2026 Run for the Money. Just hours after the auction, runners and cyclists gathered at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee to begin the 180-mile journey back to our Lecanto campus.
As we celebrate 60 years, this year's event was a beautiful reminder of our “I Am the Key” theme. Every donor, volunteer, sponsor, staff member, family member, and community partner plays an important role in helping us continue our mission.
We are incredibly grateful for everyone who helped make Reach for the Stars 2026 such a success. Thank you for being the Key!