An Evening of Impact: Community Changemakers Shatters Fundraising Goal

Organized and hosted by Meghan Hamilton, the July 15 event brought local voices together at The Neighborhood Refuge for a beautiful night of storytelling—raising thousands for YWCA Clark County.

If you want to see what happens when Ridgefield shows up for a cause, look no further than this week's Community Changemakers event. On Wednesday, July 15, neighbors gathered under a beautiful evening sky at The Neighborhood Refuge for a night filled with profound connection, outstanding speakers, and genuine local generosity.

Organized and masterfully emcycled by Meghan Hamilton, the gathering was designed to elevate real stories from women within our community while driving critical funding toward YWCA Clark County. By the time the night wrapped up, the initial fundraising goal hadn't just been met—it was completely superseded. Even better? The momentum hasn't stopped, and additional community support is still rolling in.

A Beautiful Evening & High-Stakes Bourbon

The energy at The Neighborhood Refuge was vibrant from start to finish. It proved to be the perfect backdrop for an honest, moving, and often laughter-filled night. Five standout women from our community took the microphone: Jasmine Tolbert, Amanda Medina, Megan Dudley, Kelliana Cole, and Meghan Hamilton herself. Each brought a distinct, powerful perspective on what it means to foster real change right where you live.

A major highlight of the night came courtesy of a surprise live auction. Ridgefield Mayor Matt Cole took the stage to auction off two rare bottles of Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey, which were generously provided by our hosts at The Neighborhood Refuge. The bidding got competitive fast, with each rare bottle ultimately fetching an impressive $300 to push the night's total fundraising metrics well over the top.

Before the event kicked off, Meghan shared a personal look on Instagram at why this organization matters so deeply to our area:

What YWCA Clark County Actually Does

Here is a confession: until recently, I assumed the YWCA was just the YMCA's sister branch — swim lessons, gym memberships, summer camp. It is not. The two are entirely separate organizations, and YWCA Clark County does something else altogether: it is the organization our neighbors turn to on the worst day of their lives. Its SafeChoice program has been serving domestic violence survivors since 1974 and operates the only domestic violence shelter serving Clark County, along with a 24-hour crisis line, legal advocacy, support groups, and housing assistance for families rebuilding after abuse.

Its Sexual Assault Program provides around-the-clock legal, medical, and emotional support to survivors and their families — including advocates who will sit beside someone through a forensic exam or a law enforcement interview so they never have to face it alone. The organization also runs prevention programs in local schools, teaching young people about healthy relationships before violence ever starts.

These critical, confidential services are free, and they operate closer to home than most of us realize. That is exactly what our community rallied behind this week.