Breakthrough Gala

The Purpose of the Breakthrough Gala

Every day in Chattanooga, someone reaches a breaking point. A teenager in crisis. A parent fighting addiction. A survivor trying to rebuild after trauma. For over a decade, the McNabb Center has been there in those moments, offering care, support and a path forward. Yet too many people in our community still do not know all that we offer, or do not realize how many lives we touch each year.

The McNabb Center has served Chattanooga since 2013, when we stepped in to continue the vital programs once provided by Fortwood as that organization faced closing its doors. Since then, our services have grown across the Greater Chattanooga Area. But awareness has not kept pace with impact.

The Breakthrough Gala was created to close that gap.

The event introduces our community to the full scope of McNabb Center programs while celebrating something just as powerful: the creativity that lives within the people we serve. At the heart of the Gala is a simple belief that making art together can help people heal, express themselves and find hope.

Each year, local artists are paired with individuals connected to McNabb Center programs. Together they create something rooted in a real journey, one shaped by struggle, resilience and recovery. The artwork that results carries that story forward, and the evening itself becomes a window into the people, programs and possibilities that define the McNabb Center today.

The Breakthrough Gala exists to break through silence and misunderstanding, to build real awareness, to honor the creative spirit of our community and to invite more people to stand behind the work of the McNabb Center.

Stories from Breakthrough

Hear from past participants and see how art, connection and shared experiences come together through the Breakthrough Gala.

Help Create the Next Breakthrough

Your support helps the McNabb Center continue providing services to individuals and families throughout Greater Chattanooga. Every gift helps create more opportunities for healing, recovery and hope.

Make a Donation