Nearly $400,000 was raised at a record-breaking evening for DESC Defenders, the Downtown Ecumenical Services Council’s signature fundraiser.
The 2026 event, DESC Defenders: Stand Together, was held at WJCT on Thursday, June 11. It offered guests a memorable evening featuring a Fund-A-Need “auction” along with its inspiring program and interactive activities. Melissa and Dick Lewis were the 2026 honorary chairs.
First launched in 2019, the evening provides attendees with a deeper understanding of the challenges individuals experiencing chronic poverty face on a regular basis, offering insight into these lives through interactive displays and presentations. Since its inception seven years ago, the event has raised more than $1.5 million in support of DESC’s mission.
