Calmer Choice, non-profit organization in Barnstable, Massachusetts Calmer Choice, non-profit organization in Barnstable, Massachusetts

Event Recap: All we Need is Love Gala


An Incredible Night, An Incredible Career

Fiona's farewell party–the All We Need is Love Gala–was a resounding success. Thanks to your generous donations and pledges, we raised an astounding $122,173.

If you made a pledge or wish to donate to Fiona's Fund you can donate online here or contact jbateman@calmerchoice.org to arrange other payment methods.

Watch a Video Tribute to Fiona Jensen

For the Gala, we interviewed Fiona's family, friends, and colleagues to share thoughts with us about Fiona and Calmer Choice. Click the image below to watch the video.

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Watch a moving story of Fiona's journey with Calmer Choice

A Farewell Letter from Fiona

Greetings Friends!

Wow! That's all I can say. Wow.

What a night we had last Thursday at the Pelham House. What a gift that was from all of you to me and all that we have created over the last 11 years! What a sendoff. How lucky am I?! I felt a little bit like Cinderella at the ball.

Thank you for all your love, for all your kind words, for all your donations! How joyous and grateful I feel.

They often say that it's important to “complete” one chapter before you move into another, with perhaps some kind of ceremony to do that. Well, I feel incredibly lucky to have had such an amazing “ceremony”!

David Troutman and Betsy Bowes, thank you for the heartfelt roast - my face hurt from smiling! Tracy O’Neill and Silvi Johnson from Two Crows Creative Group, thanks for your special communications and design expertise. Thanks to all of you who were interviewed and to Tom and Melissa Chartrand from Shoreline Media for creating the tribute video. And then all the rest of you for everything that you put into it. Family and friends who flew in from all over the country. The Development Committee who helped to secure sponsorships, sell tables and tickets and to Lynda Comolli, Christine Davenport and my dear “Goddess” friends who volunteered at the event. All the special details were perfect from the The Kindness Rocks painting table, the polaroid photos and scrapbook making table, and my favorite pies and cupcakes! Miss Julia Bateman deserves a special recognition for her event planning skills! So many moving parts to manage over 2 differing dates with our reschedule from the storm.

Tony Shepley and Shepley Wood Products -thank you for being the gala’s premier sponsor, your wonderful remarks and your unwavering support for so many years means so much. To our amazing gala sponsors: Beacon Financial Planning of Cape Cod, Cape Air, Cape Cod 5, The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, Eastern Bank, SLYK Shades and Cape Cod Aggregates – thank you for always being there for Calmer Choice and for making this evening happen.

The “All We Need is Love” gala raised an incredible $122,173, all of which go to the Fiona Jensen Legacy Fund created in my honor as I retire from this organization that I hold so dear.

What a gift to me. I can depart on my next adventure knowing that Calmer Choice is secure financially and under the direction of amazing leadership.

So, with that I say farewell.

I'm sure I'll be around from time to time but in reality, I'm handing over the reins to our new CEO Emily Smalley as well as the amazing staff, instructors, and Board of Directors of Calmer Choice. I have the utmost faith that they will take this organization to exactly the place it is meant to go.

This journey of Calmer Choice has always been way bigger than any one person or any one group. I can't wait to see how it continues to change the world!

With much love and such gratitude,
Fiona

Gala Photo Gallery

Thanks to Julia Cumes Photography for capturing the event with these wonderful photos.