3 Keynote Speakers Perfect for Your Fundraising Gala Event
Planning a gala is not for the faint of heart. If you’ve ever been a part of planning a fundraising gala event, you understand how difficult it can be to make it successful. Some organizations have hosted a traditional gala for decades, knowing what works and having a solid, repeatable plan. However, for smaller or newer nonprofits, gala event planning can be extremely challenging.
One thing that doesn’t need to be hard is finding a keynote speaker who can help bring value to your event! We have a dream team of talented and special keynote speakers, and we feel any of them could help you make your gala one to remember, but today, we’re going to highlight 3 on the blog.
Any Non-profit organization is something to be celebrated. Our keynote speakers have experience working with organizations of all walks of life, from health and mental health care to human services, to arts, cultures, and humanities. If you’re a part of a nonprofit that does amazing things, we’d love the opportunity to help tell your story and shape your event for success!
Here are 3 Keynote Speakers who are perfect for your fundraising gala event!
Mike Shoreman
Mike understands the value of the nonprofit world, as he has partnered with organizations like jack.org to promote initiatives like “The Great Lakes Crossings for Youth Mental Health.” By becoming the first person with a disability to paddleboard across all five great lakes, Mike helped to raise money and awareness fo youth mental health programs in Canada, while also inspiring others and challenging stigmas associated with disabilities.
When you’re looking for a keynote speaker for a gala, you want to find someone who is both relevant and experienced in speaking on stage, but you also want to find someone with some credibility and experience in the nonprofit world. Someone who has served, done, and inspired themselves. Mike has certainly done that and can help lift your hard work and effort to serve others with his heartfelt humor and captivating presence.
Mike’s book, Crash and Rise: From Victim to Thriving Survivor, has received a high amount of praise, which speaks to his story, persona, and ability to inspire.
“I loved the humour, the heart, and the hope that this book left me with. It was a quick, easy read - light-hearted and powerful at the same time. It was a story of overcoming adversity at a time when we are all going through adversity, so the message of resilience and innovation in the face of extreme challenge was relevant and powerful. I loved this book even more than I thought I would!”
”I had seen Mike's speech online, and as a sufferer of Facial Paralysis, probably RHS, I can relate to his experiences. Crash & Rise is a truly inspirational book that is a must-read for anyone who faces difficult challenges in their journey. I was gripped from beginning to the end, and it's helped me turn a corner.”
Lauren Pires
You won’t find a more bubbly, cheerful, and sweet speaker than Lauren Pires. She understands the challenges associated with living with a disability, but she also moves through life with a steadfast commitment to breaking the mould of what that means. She is an award-winning speaker on resilience, joy, and self-acceptance. She has raised money for a nonprofit known as the Invisible Disabilities Association and holds the title of being the only Canadian ambassador.
She also understands hardship, being born with Central Core Disease, a neuromuscular disorder that forces her to live life with 33% of the physical strength of an average human. This does not stop her from inspiring humans from all over the world regularly, and her spirit is felt on the microphone when she is on stage. She is truly a one-of-a-kind human who can connect with just about anyone and help them feel good, inspired, and happy!
Here’s what some of the audience had to say about a recent virtual keynote presentation that Lauren delivered for The Co-Operators Insurance Group!
“Very great explanation of understanding differences in others and inspiration in difference.”
“Yay! Lauren is inspiring, and her session was both informative and helpful!”
“Very engaging, great speaker!”
Brooklyn Dicent
Brooklyn could energize a sloth! She has so much positive energy, and she brings it with her wherever she goes. She’s a specialist in kickoff and/or closing keynotes, and it doesn’t matter where she is; she’s a master of bringing joy! She is perfect for a gala because she is a specialist in happiness and joy-themed events, which your gala is ideally chock-full of. Her ability to combine positive psychology with humor leaves an impression on her audience, which could be perfect for your gala.
She typically focuses on businesses that may need a kickstart of energy to help with sales or finding joy, but her ability to encapsulate a message and customize a theme is unmatched. She can create an environment of gratitude and joy like no one else, and that’s why she’d make a great keynote for your fundraising gala!
Here are a few recent reflections from a keynote that Brooklyn delivered for AdventHealth just last month!
“As someone with ADHD, I often struggle to focus in sessions. But this talk kept me locked in the whole time. More importantly, it gave me tools I can actually use to redirect my energy.”
“I felt the shift. It wasn’t just theory — I walked out and immediately sent an email I had been putting off.”
“This was the perfect blend of humor, science, and practical steps. It gave me the courage to speak up in spaces where I’d been holding back.”
We recommend reaching out to speak with us and go over the details of your event so we can introduce the rest of our talented roster of keynote speakers, but ideally, this blog today helped you feel more comfortable in finding a keynote for your gala event. With so much planning needed to throw a memorable and efficient gala, we aim to make finding a speaker for your event as easy as possible! Reach out today via our contact form, and we will get the process started ASAP!