Cancer Support Community Central Ohio is bringing back its signature Night of Chocolate gala next month, transforming Hollywood Casino Columbus into an Enchanted Forest for one night of chef-crafted desserts, a live auction and stories from families whose lives have been upended by cancer. The event is set for September 25, with registration opening at 5:45 p.m., a buffet at 6 p.m., and the formal program beginning at 7:30 p.m.
As reported by NBC4 WCMH-TV, the gala will feature guest speakers, the Outstanding Corporate Partner recognition, and the Skip Weiler Inspiration Award, alongside firsthand stories of hope and resilience from those the organization serves. That award is named for Robert “Skip” Weiler Jr., president of The Robert Weiler Company and a longtime Cancer Support Community Central Ohio board member who has also led major campaigns for groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters, according to Smart Business Magazine.
Guests can expect a gourmet buffet, chocolate stations and specialty cocktails, per the station's report. Local dessert vendors joining the evening include Brownie Points Inc., Anthony-Thomas Chocolates, Winans Coffee & Chocolate, Johnson's Real Ice Cream and Coblentz Chocolate Company, according to event details from Cancer Support Community Central Ohio. Brownie Points founder Lisa King has served on the organization's board of directors since 2017.
A Milestone Year for a Columbus Tradition
This year's gala marks the 22nd installment of Night of Chocolate, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in October 2024 and has become the organization's primary annual fundraiser, according to Columbus Living. Past galas have drawn between 500 and 1,000 attendees to Hollywood Casino Columbus, reflecting the event's long-running role as a community tradition on the city's West Side.
The venue itself has recently expanded. Hollywood Casino Columbus opened a 150,000-square-foot, 203-room hotel tower in June, a $100 million project built under a community benefits agreement with local trade unions, as Hoodline previously reported. The new lodging gives gala guests and out-of-town visitors additional options for the September event.
Proceeds Fund Free Cancer Support Across Central Ohio
All proceeds from Night of Chocolate go toward Cancer Support Community Central Ohio's free programs and services, the station notes. Established in 2004 at 1200 Old Henderson Road in Columbus, the organization provides more than 70 monthly free programs to cancer patients and caregivers across Franklin County and seven surrounding counties, according to its own program listings. Those services include support groups, individual counseling, wellness programs, educational opportunities and family services for people living with cancer, survivors and their caregivers.
Past galas have also served as launching points for major fundraising milestones, including a $1.1 million Rays of Hope Campaign aimed at eliminating building debt and extending cancer survivorship programs into rural central Ohio counties. Early momentum for that campaign included $425,000 raised from board members and corporate donors, per the organization's historical materials.
The nonprofit also benefits from dedicated state funding. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 4501.21, $25 from every $35 sale of the state's specialty ovarian cancer awareness license plate is deposited into the organization's Sheryl L. Kraner Fund, which supports local cancer education efforts across Central Ohio. In December 2024, the organization also received a Franklin County Community Partnership Health Equity Grant intended to expand non-medical cancer support resources to historically underserved populations, according to the Franklin County Commissioners.
Why Free Support Services Matter in Ohio
The need behind the gala's fundraising goal is significant. Ohio recorded an overall cancer incidence rate of 532.7 per 100,000 for men and 456.8 per 100,000 for women between 2018 and 2022, according to American Cancer Society statistics compiled by Becker's Oncology, placing the state above national averages. The American Cancer Society also projects that 44% of U.S. cancer deaths remain preventable through modifiable lifestyle factors and timely screenings, underscoring the role of education-focused nonprofits like Cancer Support Community Central Ohio.
Guests interested in attending can support the cause by purchasing individual tickets, reserving a table, or becoming an event sponsor, with tickets, sponsorship information and additional details available on the organization's Night of Chocolate web page. While the evening leans into high-end culinary experiences and an Enchanted Forest theme, its underlying purpose is to underwrite free community care for families across the region navigating a cancer diagnosis.
