Keys to Empowerment 2026: A Night of Music, Community, and Impact
On May 15, 2026, Ready to Empower welcomed a full house to our annual Keys to Empowerment: A Dueling Piano Charity Event at Ponus Yacht Club in Stamford, CT, and what an unforgettable evening it was.
The room was filled with music, laughter, dancing, generosity, and powerful moments of connection as our community came together to support mental health and empowerment programs.
From the moment guests arrived, the energy was incredible. Friends and supporters gathered for dinner, silent auction bidding, our Fund-a-Need initiative, and an unforgettable night of live entertainment with the talented Flying Ivories dueling pianos. Song requests, spirited challenges, dancing, and shared celebration reminded us of something we deeply believe: community has the power to heal, uplift, and create change.
A Night of Impact
Because of the generosity of our attendees, sponsors, donors, and supporters, Keys to Empowerment exceeded its fundraising goal, helping advance Ready to Empower’s mission of expanding access to mental health support and empowerment programs for women, educators, parents, students, and communities.
We are incredibly grateful to every person who attended, donated, bid in our silent auction, purchased dueling dollars, and gave so generously throughout the evening. Your support directly fuels programs that foster mental wellness, resilience, confidence, and connection.
Honoring Sharon Walker Epps
One of the most meaningful moments of the night was honoring Sharon Walker Epps, this year’s Local Empowerer Honoree. Sharon’s leadership, compassion, and dedication to supporting survivors and strengthening our community through her work with The Rowan Center embody the spirit of empowerment and service. We were honored to celebrate her impact and recognize the difference she continues to make in the lives of so many.
Thank You to Our Supporters
An event like this is only possible because of an extraordinary community of partners and supporters.
We extend heartfelt thanks to our generous auction donors, whose contributions helped make our silent auction such a success.
We are also deeply grateful for all of our volunteers who made the night happen, including our photographer, Regina, who generously donated her time and talent to capture the joy and spirit of the evening.
Also, a special thank you to Picture That Events for providing the fun, energy, and excitement of the 360-degree video booth experience and helped create unforgettable moments throughout the night.
To everyone who joined us, a sincere thank you.
Thank you for believing in mental health.
Thank you for investing in the community.
And thank you for helping us continue empowering lives through compassion, connection, and care.
We invite you to relive the evening through our event photos and videos below and celebrate the impact we created together.
Laughter, Dancing & Lasting Impact - Moments From Keys to Empowerment 2026
View all videos from the 360 Booth Here
Right-click on any photo below to download
Couldn’t attend but still want to make an impact?
Support mental health and empowerment programs with a donation today.
Interested in learning more? Visit our Ready Empowerment Program Grant and Ready EmpowerED pages to explore our programs and impact.