Non-Profit

For one October evening in Cypress, a hand at the blackjack table or a bid on an auction item will carry a purpose well beyond the game.

Cy-Hope’s All In for Hope Casino Night Gala returns Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at The Cypress Alamo, bringing together supporters for an evening of casino-style games, cocktails, food, entertainment, friendly competition and auction items—all benefiting a nonprofit that has spent the past 15 years building a network of support around local children and families.

The gala begins at 5 p.m. and, according to Cy-Hope, is designed as an evening where celebration and generosity meet. Individual seats, couples’ tickets and tables for eight are available, giving friends, neighbors and local businesses several ways to take part. The 2026 event marks the second year for the All In for Hope Casino Night format.

For those who know Cy-Hope primarily through one of its programs—a backpack of weekend food, an after-school Hope Center, counseling services or a youth activity—the gala offers a look at how those seemingly separate efforts fit together.

They are all part of the same mission: Making Life Better for Kids.

A Casino Night With a Local Purpose

Guests at the Cy-Hope All In for Hope Gala 2026 can expect the atmosphere of a casino night without losing sight of why the room is full.

The evening at The Cypress Alamo will include casino games, signature cocktails, dining, entertainment, stories illustrating Cy-Hope’s impact and opportunities to support the organization through auction items and other fundraising activities. All proceeds benefit Cy-Hope and the programs it operates for children and families in Cypress, Cy-Fair and surrounding communities. (Cy-Hope)

That local connection is an important part of the event. The people gathering around the tables are helping fund services that may reach students attending the same schools as their children, families living only a few streets away or young people whose circumstances are rarely visible from the outside.

Cy-Hope says nearly 60% of families in Cy-Fair ISD are working to overcome economic challenges, which is one reason the nonprofit has developed programs addressing needs ranging from food insecurity and academic support to mental health, mentoring and hands-on STEM education. 

How Cy-Hope Began in the Cy-Fair Community

Cy-Hope’s story stretches back to 2010, when Foundry Church pastor Godfrey Hubert and a small team began reconsidering how the church could make a deeper, lasting difference outside its own congregation.

The idea developed while the group participated in the Missional Renaissance program through Leadership Network in Dallas. Rather than focusing only on occasional service projects, Hubert and other community leaders began looking for ways to address long-term needs affecting children throughout Cy-Fair.

Because the school district connected families across virtually every corner of the community, the group chose children in Cy-Fair as the focus of its work. Cy-Hope subsequently formed as a Texas nonprofit in 2011 with the mission of making life better for kids.

Foundry Church ultimately contributed more than $2 million toward the organization’s launch and growth. Founding Executive Director Lynda (Zelenka) Dierker helped turn the concept into an expanding network of programs built around needs identified through conversations with schools, families and community leaders. 

Fifteen years later, what began with three part-time employees has grown into an organization with nearly 100 team members, more than 900 volunteers and services reaching approximately 4,000 students and their families each year, according to Cy-Hope’s 15-year retrospective. 

What Cy-Hope Does for Local Kids and Families

Cy-Hope’s approach is intentionally broad because the obstacles facing children rarely exist in isolation.

Its after-school Hope Centers provide students ages 5 through 18 in Harris and Waller counties with places to receive homework help, mentoring, STEM experiences, sports and creative activities. The centers also offer programs such as CREW—Center for Reading Enrichment and Writing—for younger students, along with a Mobile STEM Bus featuring LEGO robotics and other hands-on learning opportunities.

Food assistance is another major part of the organization’s work. Through a partnership with the Houston Food Bank, Backpack Buddies provides eligible students in Cy-Fair and Waller ISDs with discreet bags of shelf-stable food to help carry their families through weekends when school meals are unavailable. School counselors help identify students who may need the program.

Cy-Hope also operates counseling services for children, adolescents, adults, couples and families; youth mentoring; college and career assistance; fine arts programming; summer camps; Dierker’s Champs baseball; school-supply assistance and other programs aimed at giving children both immediate support and longer-term opportunities. 

Its reach has expanded beyond Cypress as well. Cy-Hope now operates services in Waller, including counseling, an after-school Hope Center and food assistance. 

The organization also developed Hope Chest Resale Market, with locations in Cypress and Katy, where proceeds from donated and purchased items help support Cy-Hope’s programs. 

Together, those programs illustrate why an annual fundraiser can have effects well beyond a single night.

Community Support Keeps the Work Moving

Cy-Hope has built much of its model around the idea that helping children is not solely the responsibility of schools, nonprofits or government agencies.

Its stated vision is to bring together businesses, schools, churches, civic organizations, healthcare organizations, volunteers and individual donors to create opportunities for underserved children.

The All In for Hope Casino Night Gala puts that community-based model in one room.

For some attendees, supporting Cy-Hope may mean purchasing an individual ticket and spending an evening with friends. Others may attend as couples, fill a table of eight, contribute auction items or participate through corporate sponsorships.

Cy-Hope is also accepting 2026 gala sponsors, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from Copper at $1,000 to Platinum at $10,000. Some levels include gala seating or full tables. Businesses and organizations interested in customized sponsorship opportunities can contact specialevents@cy-hope.org. 

All In for Hope Gala 2026: What to Know

The Cy-Hope All In for Hope Casino Night Gala will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, beginning at 5 p.m. at The Cypress Alamo in Cypress, Texas.

Guests can expect casino-style games, cocktails, dining, entertainment, friendly competition, auction opportunities and stories highlighting the children and families reached through Cy-Hope’s programs.

Individual tickets, couples’ tickets and tables for eight are available. Ticket information and registration are available through Cy-Hope’s official gala page.

For an organization built around connecting local needs with local people willing to help, the evening is another way of turning a night out into something that lasts after the final cards are dealt.

And for the children and families who encounter Cy-Hope through a meal sent home for the weekend, an encouraging mentor, a counselor, a baseball field, an after-school classroom or an opportunity they otherwise might not have had, that support can take a much more personal form.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more Cypress and Cy-Fair community events, nonprofit news and local stories making a difference close to home.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.