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In South Arkansas, A Masquerade Ball May Decide the Future of a Domestic Violence Shelter


MAGNOLIA, Ark. — December 8, 2025.

As Magnolia prepares to close out the year with fireworks, church services, and family traditions, one event stands out — not for its glamour alone, but for the weight it carries.


Compassions Foundation Inc., one of the region’s only dual domestic violence and sexual assault shelters, has announced its first-ever New Years Eve Masquerade Ball, a gala that could determine whether the organization survives into 2026.


Held on December 31st, the event promises food, music, dancing, fireworks, and the crowning of the inaugural Midnight Monarchs — but behind the velvet and champagne lies a stark reality: the shelter must fill a funding gap to continue operating.


The Foundation, which serves survivors from Columbia, Lafayette, Nevada, and surrounding counties, experienced a significant reduction in federal grant support this fall. With demand for crisis housing at a historic high, the loss created what Executive Director Lacey Ogle called “a make-or-break moment.”


“We have women and children sleeping safely tonight because this building exists,” Ogle said.“If we lose it, we don’t just lose a shelter — our community loses a lifeline.”

Unlike most fundraising banquets, the Masquerade Ball is designed as both celebration and safeguard. Every ticket purchased contributes directly to housing, transportation, legal advocacy, emergency relocation, and 24-hour crisis response for victims in danger. The organization emphasized that proceeds are not symbolic — they are operational.


Although Magnolia has a long tradition of civic giving, the stakes this year feel different. According to board members, if the final weeks of December do not generate significant revenue, the shelter could be forced to reduce services — or close its doors entirely.


“People think shelters are just rooms and beds,” one staff advocate said.“But what we really offer is escape — and a chance to start over. You can’t quantify that, but you can lose it.”

Tickets for the Masquerade Ball are now on sale to the public. The event will take place in Magnolia on the night of December 31st, with doors opening at 8 p.m. and the final hour of 2025 marked in gold, champagne, and hope.


The holidays, organizers say, are a season of generosity — and this year, generosity may be measured not in decoration, but in survival.


Fundraising Contact: Lakyn Camp, Program Coordinator

 
 
 

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