Champion for Children
December 5, 2026 @ 5:00PM — 8:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada) Add to Calendar
Historic Manhattan Casino: 642 22nd St St. Petersburg, FL 33712 Get Directions
Champion for Children: An Evening of Jazz, Hope, & Celebration
Join EverForward on December 5th at the Historic Manhattan Casino for an unforgettable evening of jazz, celebration, and inspiration honoring Senator Darryl Rouson! Together, we'll celebrate resilience, the courage to overcome adversity, and the power of community to create brighter futures for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. This is not your typical nonprofit event—it's an evening you won't want to miss!
Join EverForward on December 5, 2026, at the Historic Manhattan Casino in St. Petersburg for an unforgettable evening honoring Senator Darryl Rouson as our Champion for Children.
Set against the rich history of this iconic venue, the evening will celebrate the legacy of jazz and blues while honoring the strength of the human spirit, the courage to overcome obstacles, and the power of second chances.At the heart of this celebration are the children EverForward serves—young people who have traveled incredibly difficult paths marked by abuse, neglect, and adversity. Their stories remind us that no child should be defined by what they've endured, but by the possibilities of what comes next.
This is not your typical nonprofit event! Enjoy gourmet cuisine by Kelli's Catering, signature cocktails and creative mocktails honoring Senator Rouson's advocacy for sobriety and recovery, and extraordinary live entertainment featuring the Al Downing Jazz Band, a talented youth vocalist, and a surprise performance by a youth band!
Tickets & Event Details
General Admission — $125 | 6:00–8:00 PM
Includes gourmet food, beverages, and all evening entertainment.
VIP Experience — $150 | 5:00–8:00 PM
Includes everything in General Admission, plus an exclusive VIP reception featuring a special meet-and-greet and additional musical entertainment.
Celebrating Resilience. Honoring Triumph. Inspiring What's Next.
More than an event, this evening is a celebration of the extraordinary ability to rise above adversity and a powerful reminder that our past does not have to define our future.
Together, we're raising the bar for what comes next for kids.
We can't change what a child has been through. But together, we can change what comes next.