On May 30th, the Harvey County community came together for an unforgettable day of music, motorcycles, classic cars, great food, and most importantly, hope.
Hosted at Hesston High School, Ignite Hope Fest transformed a simple fundraising idea into a full-scale community celebration benefiting EmberHope and the children and families the organization serves across Kansas.
The event featured something for everyone: a poker run starting at Twister City and winding through parts of Sedgwick and Harvey Counties, a car show filled with impressive vehicles, live music throughout the afternoon and evening, delicious barbecue, local vendors, and opportunities for community members to connect around a shared purpose.
According to Virginia Lewis, EmberHope’s Development and Volunteer Coordinator, the idea for Ignite Hope Fest began with local musician and EmberHope maintenance staff Jordan Tozier.
“The idea for the event was first brought forward through Jordan Tozier’s vision and creativity,” Lewis shared. “Jordan’s goal initially was to host a benefit concert for EmberHope. After several conversations and planning, this turned into a full day of family fun, combining the concert with a poker run, car show, more live music, and great food.”
As planning began, EmberHope’s team saw an opportunity to create more than a fundraiser. The vision quickly expanded into a community-wide event designed to bring people together while raising awareness and support for children and families facing difficult circumstances.
“When planning began, our team quickly envisioned a local community-wide event that felt energetic, welcoming, and meaningful,” Lewis recalled. “This was an opportunity to connect more in our local community while supporting a strong cause.”
That vision became reality on event day.
After months of preparation, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, musicians, riders, car enthusiasts, and community members filled the grounds with energy and excitement. Families enjoyed barbecue prepared by Hooray Grill Company, attendees explored the car show, poker run participants completed their routes, and live music from Sam Shilts and Jordan Tozier and Company kept the festivities moving throughout the day.
“Seeing the event come together after months of planning was overwhelming in the best way,” Lewis shared. “Watching the poker run riders arrive, seeing the cars pull in for the car show, families enjoying the BBQ, and the live music throughout the day really brought the vision to life. It truly felt like a community celebration from start to finish.”
Although weather concerns threatened to put a damper on the evening, the community’s enthusiasm never wavered.
“What stood out most was the resilience and generosity of the community,” Lewis said. “Even as the weather shifted, people stayed engaged, supportive, and positive. The Hesston and Harvey County communities really came together in a powerful way, and it showed just how deeply people care about supporting youth and families.”
The event raised nearly $10,000 between cash and in-kind donations, and Lewis said that exceeded her expectations, especially for the first event. Strong participation across the poker run, car show, vendor area, and live music components demonstrated just how much support exists within the community.
“Plugging into our community was the main goal of this event,” she said. “The awareness and connections built through the event preparations are so valuable. Adding in donations from the benefit concert just exceeded our expectations.”
Events of this scale require countless people working behind the scenes, and Lewis emphasized that Ignite Hope Fest was truly a community effort.
“There are so many people to thank,” she said. “Jordan Tozier deserves recognition for bringing forward the original idea and helping shape the vision for what this event could become. The EmberHope Marketing and Development team was the backbone that helped push this event into the festival it became.”
She also expressed gratitude for Jordan Tozier and Company, Sam Shilts, Hooray Grill Company, event sponsors, volunteers, vendors, poker run participants, car show entrants, and everyone who attended.
“Community support was truly the driving force behind this event,” Lewis said. “A lot of new partnerships were made, and we could not have done this without each of them. What a wonderful community we have here in Harvey County.”
The funds raised through Ignite Hope Fest will directly support EmberHope’s mission of serving children and families facing some of life’s most difficult challenges. Through foster care, residential services, family support, and other key programs, EmberHope works to provide safety, stability, healing, and hope for those in need.
For Lewis, helping bring the event to life was deeply meaningful.
“Being part of something that focused on bringing the local community together in such a positive way was incredibly rewarding,” she said. “Personally, it was a reminder of how powerful collaboration and shared purpose can be when people come together for something bigger than themselves.”
A special thank you goes out to the many sponsors who helped make Ignite Hope Fest possible. We are especially grateful to Conrade Insurance Group, the Hesston Chamber of Commerce, Hooray Grill, and Fuqua Insurance for their incredible support and partnership. Along with our many other sponsors, vendors, and community supporters, your generosity helped transform an idea into an unforgettable day of connection, celebration, and hope.
Looking ahead, Lewis hopes Ignite Hope Fest becomes an annual tradition.
“There is so much potential to build on what was started this year,” she said. “My hope is that it continues to grow, attract even more community involvement, and raise even greater local support for EmberHope while remaining a fun and meaningful time of family and connection.”
As the music faded and the last cars rolled out, one thing remained clear: Ignite Hope Fest was about far more than a single day of entertainment. It was a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together in support of children and families.
“The generosity and support we saw throughout the day will stay with us for a long time,” Lewis said. “It sets a strong foundation for what we hope to continue building in the future.”
And if you ask Lewis about her favorite moment from the day?
“Hearing Gretchen Rhodes sing ‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll’ was amazing to experience.”
As Ignite Hope Fest comes to a close, the impact of this event continues. Every sponsor, volunteer, rider, musician, car show participant, vendor, and attendee helped create a day that not only brought our community together, but also strengthened support for children and families across Kansas.
If you would like to be part of that impact, we invite you to learn more about EmberHope’s mission, volunteer opportunities, and ways to give. Together, we can continue igniting hope and creating brighter futures for the children and families we serve.
