The 18th Annual Celebration of Independence Gala benefits Women’s Empowerment -- a local nonprofit job training and empowerment program for women who are homeless and their children. The event will raises funds for the organization and honors the group’s 1,574 graduates. Guests will mingle with program graduates and enjoy a formal dinner, live and silent auctions, live music, and graduate presentations.

Women’s Empowerment was featured on NBC’s The Today Show in 2015 for offering the most comprehensive job-readiness program in the Sacramento area designed specifically for women who are homeless and their children. The award-winning organization has graduated 1,574 homeless women and their 3,627 children. Last year, 82 percent of graduates found homes and 76 percent found jobs or enrolled in school or training. The program combines self-esteem courses, job training, health classes and support services to help homeless women across diverse ages, races and cultures. Women’s Empowerment is funded through private donations from the community and receives no government funding except for in-kind rent from the County of Sacramento.