11th Annual Ugly Sweater Party and Fundraiser
The 2025 Ugly Sweater Party and Fundraiser was a festive success, welcoming more than 100 community members, partners, friends, and families to Bell’s Brewery. The evening celebrated and raised awareness for the whole child approach of supporting students through Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo (CIS).
Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, organizations, event attendees, and donors, this year’s fundraiser exceeded expectations, bringing in more than $20,000 to support the mission of CIS. Guests enjoyed the energetic, cheerful atmosphere while networking, reconnecting with familiar faces, and forming new connections. The warm holiday spirit created an evening full of laughter, conversation, and community.
The ugly sweater competition was a highlight of the night, with the sweater sponsors pulling out all the stops. From digital fireplaces to bold, over-the-top creations, the sweaters were as imaginative as they were outrageous, showcasing incredible creativity and plenty of humor (one literally including jokes!).
Competitors had 2.5 weeks before the event to build excitement and raise funds (aka votes!) for their sweaters. Totals were calculated using pre-event fundraising, company ticket sales, matching gifts, and final ballots cast during the event. We are thrilled to recognize the 2025 top fundraising sweater winners:
- 1st Place: Kalsec, Inc. – $3,730 raised
- 2nd Place: Azon – $1,389 raised
- 3rd Place: Chase – $1,354 raised
Alongside the fundraising awards, attendees voted live for the Fan Favorite sweater. This year, the crowd’s favorite went to Chase, earning them well-deserved bragging rights.
This year, we also hosted a silent auction featuring three themed packages: Self-Care, Night Out, and Sports Fan. We are incredibly grateful to the many local businesses that generously donated items to make these packages possible. Thank you to 13 Cookies, Climb Kalamazoo, Consumers Credit Union, Defined Lines Marketing, Miller Auditorium, Oasis Face Bar, PNC Bank, Radisson Plaza Hotel Kalamazoo, and West Hills Athletic Club for their support.
Thank you to our 2025 sponsors and supporters! We couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for supporting the CIS mission of surrounding students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
