Case study · The Cure Starts Now · Wisconsin
The Cure Starts Now Galaween 2026
How the Wisconsin chapter of The Cure Starts Now turned its annual Galaween into a $90,000 night for childhood cancer research.
Case study · The Cure Starts Now · Wisconsin
How the Wisconsin chapter of The Cure Starts Now turned its annual Galaween into a $90,000 night for childhood cancer research.
The client
The Cure Starts Now raises money for pediatric cancer research. Its Wisconsin chapter, Brayleighville, is led by chapter director Christi King.
The chapter is named for Christi's daughter, Brayleigh King, who lost her life to pediatric brain cancer. Every dollar raised carries her name forward.
Galaween is the chapter's biggest night of the year. A costume gala with a cocktail hour, dinner, speeches, and a room full of people who came to give.
The challenge
A fundraiser runs on energy. Guests arrive in waves, mingle, then sit through dinner and speeches. The chapter needed entertainment that kept people happy, talking, and in a giving mood all night.
It also had to fit a full program without slowing anything down.
What they were looking for
Entertainment from the moment guests walked in, through registration and the cocktail hour.
A stage show to cap off the night after dinner and speeches.
Fun, clean, and warm. Built for a room that came together for kids.
What we did
Eric worked the room from 5:30 to 7, table to table, through registration and the Boo's Hour cocktail reception. Guests got magic in their own hands, inches from their faces.
After dinner and speeches, he took the stage to close the night. Eric also donated most of his performance to the cause.
Timing built around registration, the Boo's Hour, dinner, and speeches. One less thing for the team to manage.
90 minutes of close-up magic, so guests had something to talk about from the moment they arrived.
A stage show after the program to end the night on a high.
See it in action
A quick look at the magic from the night.
The finale
By the end of the night, the chapter had raised $90,000 for pediatric cancer research.
The credit belongs to the families, sponsors, and volunteers who made it happen. Eric's job was to keep the room happy and engaged, so guests stayed, talked, and gave.
The takeaway
At a fundraiser, the cause is the main event. Great entertainment keeps the energy up, so the cause has the room's full attention when it matters.
If your organization is planning a gala or fundraiser, this is exactly the kind of night Eric builds.
From the planner's side
The cause is the main event. Entertainment should lift the room, then step aside for the speeches and the ask.
Guests arrive in waves. Tableside magic during the cocktail hour gives early arrivals something to do and gets people talking.
Build the entertainment around dinner and speeches, never on top of them.
A strong closing moment sends people home happy and ready to come back next year.
Fall gala dates fill fast. Lock in entertainment early.
Straight answers
Yes. Eric performs at galas and fundraisers often. Ask about options for nonprofits.
Yes. Many galas book tableside magic during the cocktail hour and a short stage show later in the night.
Yes. Clean, fun, and right for every age in the room.
No. A clear spot at the front of the room and a mic are usually all it takes.
As early as you can. Fall gala season fills first.
Planning something similar?
Tell Eric about your event. He answers every inquiry personally.