A Magical Evening by the Lake: Night Light 2025 Honoring Lives & Supporting a Mission

A Night to Remember

 

This year marked our third annual Night Light event, but it was our first at our stunning new venue, The Conservatory at Evergreen. Nestled in the woodlands beside a peaceful lake, the setting provided a truly magical atmosphere to gather our supporters in celebration of Morning Light’s mission.

 

By the time the evening arrived, the silent auction items were set, the magical desserts—collected from some of the city’s most generous bakeries—were beautifully displayed, and over 900 flameless candles were glowing, each one commemorating an individual served by The Abbie Hunt Bryce Home over the past 21 years.

 

As the sun dipped low behind the woodland and dusk settled over the lake, it was heartwarming to see so many smiling faces arriving, finding their tables, and taking in the beauty of the space.

 

At the heart of Night Light is always the live string quartet, performed by Arts With a Purpose. Their melodies filled the air, from classical compositions to beloved songs by Taylor Swift and The Beatles, creating a soundtrack of roomful of conversation and food being served.

 

The evening also featured an open bar, a cake silent auction, and delicious hot food. Guests took on the cake walk and bought items from the “Morning Light Market” gift stand run by Karen and Jessica.

 

As guests settled in, Madison Wood-Gonzalez, our Executive Director, spoke about the heart of Morning Light’s mission:

 

“No one should die alone.”

 

She reminded us that The Abbie Hunt Bryce Home is a place for those with nowhere else to go—for those whose illnesses have financially devastated them, for those who had little to begin with, for those who have experienced homelessness or other hardships on top of a terminal diagnosis.

 

‘We are a free home for those in their final days without anywhere else to go or anyone else to care for them.”

A Video Presentation About Why This Mission Matters Which Played at Night Light 25

It is always powerful to see new residents arrive at The Abbie Hunt Bryce Home and notice how their burden lightens—not because their illness is any less serious, but because the weight of mental and physical burdens are lifted.

They no longer have to wonder:

Who will feed me?

Who will keep me warm?

Who will check on me when I can no longer get up?

Instead, they wake up to smiles and care. Families, once weighed down by the exhausting role of primary caregiving, are able to simply be family again. Residents can make new connections. Those who thought they had no more memories left to make discover new moments of joy—special events are planned, afternoon gatherings, laughter, and love in front of the communal TV.

For all of us, it is easy to forget how rare and magical life truly is. But working at Morning Light reminds us every single day that each new dawn, each star-filled sky, is a gift beyond measure.

Time is our greatest investment, and for most of us, it keeps replenishing—day after day, year after year. But for those in their final days, it becomes the most precious thing in the world.

At Morning Light, our mission is to honor that truth, ensuring that our residents experience the “best last days.” As Director of Programming, Karen Adan, shared in the Night Light video, making this possible is the heart of our work.

A Night of Impact

At Night Light 2025, the mission outlined above, filled the room. It was felt in every conversation, in every generous bid at the auction, in every moment of shared reflection. It was a night where supporters, volunteers, sponsors, and donors came together, not just to raise funds, but to celebrate the impact that Morning Light has on the lives of our residents. Thanks to your generosity, we are thrilled to announce that we raised an incredible $67,000 for The Abbie Hunt Bryce Home! During the evening, we unlocked a special $10,000 anonymous matching gift! 

We extend a sincere gratitude to Jessica White, who spoke so eloquently about her friend and resident of The Abbie Hunt Bryce home, Alice. A touching story you can read more about in the article below.

Special Thanks to Our Newest Member of The Team

A heartfelt pat on the back to Zachary Alexander, the newest member of our fundraising team, for organizing a truly wonderful event. 

Thank You to Our Sponsors.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our Gold Sponsors: Centier Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, and The Naked Monkey. Thank you deeply to our Rose Gold Sponsor, Alice’s Village. Your generous support is instrumental in making Night Light possible. To all who, contributed items, the magnificent volunteers, and amazing supporters—and of course, all those who attended; a sincere thank you! Your support ensures that we can continue to operate a true Indiana gem, The Abbie Hunt Bryce Home, a free home for those hit most hard by illness, a forever home for individuals on hospice right here in Indianapolis.

We can’t wait to see you again next year! 💛