A Night to Sow Gala Will Put Guests in the Shoes of the Young Women Under His Wings Gulf Coast Serves

Guests at the Daphne Civic Center next month will be asked to do more than listen to a nonprofit’s pitch. At Under His Wings Gulf Coast’s annual A Night to Sow Gala on Tuesday, Nov. 10, they will be invited to see the world through the eyes of a young woman facing trauma, uncertainty, relationships, questions of identity and the difficult transition into adulthood. Through dinner, personal testimonies and an immersive presentation, the evening is designed to bring the organization’s mission close to home.

An immersive evening instead of a speech

Rather than simply hearing about the work Under His Wings Gulf Coast does, guests will experience the different “seasons of life” represented across its programs. The gala is built around the idea that people understand a mission best when they can feel what is at stake for the young women it serves.

“A Night to Sow gives our community an opportunity to do more than hear about what we do, they get to experience why it matters,” said Arcelia Miller, executive director of Under His Wings Gulf Coast. “The presence of one safe, consistent, intentional adult can change the direction of a young woman’s life. We want our guests to leave understanding not only the challenges young women are facing, but also the incredible impact that happens when a community chooses to invest in the next generation.”

Miller’s point about a single caring adult echoes a widely cited finding in child development research: a stable, supportive relationship with at least one committed adult is among the most important factors in helping young people build resilience after adversity. For a teenager who has lived through trauma, that relationship can be the difference between repeating painful patterns and finding a new direction.

Organizers hope guests will leave not only better informed about the organization, but ready to become part of the network of people supporting young women as they grow strong roots and move toward healthy, purposeful futures.

Three programs for three stages of life

At the heart of Under His Wings Gulf Coast’s work are three programs, each serving young women at a different stage, from early adolescence into their early 20s.

Courage Home: a safe place for teen girls

Courage Home serves girls ages 13 to 18 in an intentionally small, relationship-centered residential setting. The program is built around safety, stability, education, counseling, discipleship and personal development, all aimed at creating a foundation for healing and growth.

Keeping the home small is a deliberate choice. A limited number of residents allows staff and volunteers to build close, consistent relationships with each girl, the kind of steady adult presence Miller described as life-changing.

G.L.E.A.N. and Perseverance Place

G.L.E.A.N. reaches a wider age range, serving young women ages 13 to 23 through counseling, coaching, mentoring and leadership development. The program helps participants understand their created value while building the tools they need to navigate life with confidence.

For young women ages 19 to 23 who are preparing for greater independence, Perseverance Place offers mentorship, career preparation, financial literacy and hands-on life skills. That stage is a critical one. The years after high school are when many young adults sign their first lease, manage their own money, start jobs and make decisions about school and relationships, often without the family safety net many of their peers take for granted.

Together, the three programs are designed so that support does not stop at a birthday. A girl who enters as a young teenager can continue to find guidance as she grows into adulthood.

Founded by a Fairhope doctor in 2011

Under His Wings Gulf Coast grew out of a need that Fairhope OB/GYN Dr. Nena Hunt saw firsthand among her patients. After witnessing the effects of trauma in the lives of young women, Hunt founded the organization in 2011.

What began as a vision of helping young women find safety and hope has developed into a local mission built around one central belief held by the faith-based organization: when God allows people to take part in His work, good things happen.

Fifteen years later, that vision has expanded from a single idea into the three programs serving young women across the Gulf Coast, supported by donors, volunteers and community partners.

How the community can get involved

The gala is a chance for residents to learn about the organization and to discover how they can join the network supporting the young women it serves. Like many local nonprofits, Under His Wings Gulf Coast depends on community support through attendance, donations, volunteering and mentoring.

Ticket prices, the start time and sponsorship details for A Night to Sow were not included in the organization’s announcement. Anyone interested in attending, sponsoring or supporting the gala should contact Under His Wings Gulf Coast directly for details.

Holding the gala at the Daphne Civic Center places it in the heart of the Eastern Shore, a short drive from Fairhope, where the organization’s founder practices, and from communities across Baldwin and Mobile counties. A weeknight event also gives working professionals, church groups and business leaders a chance to attend together and learn about the organization in a single evening.

If you go

• What: A Night to Sow Gala, benefiting Under His Wings Gulf Coast
• When: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026
• Where: Daphne Civic Center, Daphne
• Program: Dinner, testimonies and an immersive presentation on the organization’s work
• Programs highlighted: Courage Home (ages 13-18), G.L.E.A.N. (ages 13-23) and Perseverance Place (ages 19-23)
• Tickets and time: Contact Under His Wings Gulf Coast for details