Sun Gate Foundation
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The Sun Gate Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities to survivors of human trafficking.
06/23/2026
A big thank you to DC News Now Anchor, Shennekia Grimshaw for hosting this year’s Sun Gate Keys to Freedom Gala. ✨
She kept the evening moving with so much grace, warmth, and heart, and helped make the night feel even more special.
We’re so grateful she was part of this moment with us as we celebrated the power of education, community, and second chances.
Thank you, Shennekia, for using your voice to help support our mission. 🗝️
06/22/2026
Our Keys to Freedom silent auction was made possible by generous businesses, creatives, and community supporters who believe in opening doors through education.
Thank you to every contributor who helped make this part of the evening meaningful.
Chef Serge Pambo
Thank you to Chef Serge Pambo for contributing an exclusive 5-course private dinner experience for four guests.
From a customized tasting menu to wine or mocktail pairings, this auction item offered a one-of-a-kind culinary experience crafted with care.
Serge Pambo
The Oaks Inn Annapolis
Thank you to The Oaks Inn Annapolis for offering a gift certificate designed for rest, connection, and unforgettable experiences in the heart of historic Annapolis.
This boutique stay gives guests the chance to enjoy beautiful accommodations, warm hospitality, and walkable access to the charm of Maryland’s capital city.
The Oaks Bed & Breakfast
Prime Estate Planning
Thank you to Prime Estate Planning for contributing a Family Wealth Planning Session.
This 2-hour strategy session helps families think through their assets, planning needs, and how to protect what matters most for the people they love.
Prime Estate Planning
Dr. Darryl Arrington
Thank you to Dr. Darryl Arrington for contributing a powerful collection of books centered on healing, reflection, family dynamics, and personal growth.
Through fiction, mystery, and transformational guidance, this collection offers readers stories and tools that speak to resilience, recovery, and the human spirit.
Cecelia Arrington
Thank you to award-winning artist Cecelia Arrington for contributing a handcrafted clay art doll collection created especially for Keys to Freedom.
These delicate, exhibition-grade pieces blend culture, craftsmanship, fashion, and storytelling in a truly beautiful way.
Because of each donor, bidder, and supporter, doors continue to open.
Thank you for helping Sun Gate Foundation create pathways to education, empowerment, and freedom for survivors.
Every movement begins with someone willing to believe change is possible.
As we continue reflecting on this year’s Keys to Freedom Gala, we want to recognize the woman whose vision made it all possible: Suzanne Priest, Founder of Sun Gate Foundation.
What began as a desire to create lasting change has grown into a mission that helps survivors of human trafficking access education, opportunity, and a pathway toward the future they deserve. Suzanne recognized a critical gap in survivor services and believed that education could be a powerful tool for healing, independence, and long-term success.
Because of that vision, Sun Gate Foundation has become a source of hope for survivors across the country, helping turn dreams into achievable goals through scholarships and educational support.
The impact we celebrated at this year’s gala is a direct reflection of a foundation built on compassion, purpose, and the belief that every survivor deserves the chance to write a new chapter.
Thank you, Suzanne, for creating something that continues to change lives and open doors to freedom through education. 💛🔑
06/18/2026
As we continue to reflect on an incredible Keys to Freedom Gala, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors and partners who stood with us in support of survivors and the power of education.
Thank you to NBAA, AAAE, and Signature Aviation for investing in a future where survivors of human trafficking have access to the scholarships, resources, and opportunities needed to rebuild, heal, and thrive.
Your support helped make this evening possible, but more importantly, it helps create lasting impact far beyond a single event. Together, we are opening doors, creating pathways, and helping turn hope into opportunity.
Because of partners like you, the journey to liberation through education continues.
The soundtrack to the evening was just as powerful as the mission behind it.
A heartfelt thank you to Prof. Sax and the Liberation Band—Toussaint Sena on drums, Jesse O. Blanks on the guitar, former Sun Gate board chair Mark Tatum on Saxophone, and Noble Jolley on the keyboard, for delivering an unforgettable performance at the Sun Gate Foundation Keys to Freedom Gala.
Their extraordinary talent set the tone for an evening centered on hope, resilience, and transformation. From smooth jazz melodies to soul-stirring rhythms, every note helped create a space where stories were honored, survivors were celebrated, and our community came together in support of liberation through education.
Music has a unique way of connecting people, and this incredible group did exactly that. Thank you for sharing your gifts and helping make this year’s gala such a memorable experience. 🎶✨
One of the most powerful moments of the Sun Gate Foundation Keys to Freedom Gala was the moving performance by survivor artists Stacy Jewell, Shannan Carter, and Nate Jewell.
Through storytelling, music, and testimony, they reminded us that liberation is not the absence of a difficult past—it is finding the strength to rise beyond it.
As Stacy shared, the focus is not on the victimization of yesterday, but on the resilience, courage, and triumph of today. Their performance honored the reality of survival while celebrating the power of community, faith, healing, and survivor leadership.
Thank you to these incredible artists for sharing your gifts, your truth, and your hope with everyone in the room. Your voices are changing lives and helping illuminate the path to freedom for others.
06/16/2026
Behind every successful event is a dedicated team working tirelessly to advance the mission.
As we celebrate the success of the inaugural Keys to Freedom Gala, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Sun Gate Foundation Board of Directors who helped make this evening possible.
Thank you to:
✨ Dan Brook
✨ Shanna Aguirre
✨ Layla Doman
✨ Johnny J. Patterson II, JD, Ed.D., SIPA, ICMA
✨ Nicole Pisciotti
✨ Dr. Darryl Arrington, LCPC, NCC, BC-THM
✨ David Arriola
Your leadership, commitment, and belief in the power of education for survivors continue to strengthen our mission and expand our impact.
A special acknowledgment to Dr. Fabian Fernandez, who was unable to attend the gala but whose support and service to the Foundation are deeply appreciated.
Although Minh Watson-Dang was unable to join us in person for the inaugural Keys to Freedom Gala, we are honored to share her heartfelt acceptance message.
In her remarks, Dr. Dang reflects on the importance of survivor leadership, lifelong learning, and creating space for others to share their wisdom, truth, and lived experiences.
Her words serve as a powerful reminder that education is not only about earning degrees or scholarships—it is about expanding perspectives, challenging assumptions, and empowering people to recognize the strength within themselves and others.
We are grateful to recognize Dr. Dang for her leadership, advocacy, scholarship, and commitment to uplifting survivors around the world.
Thank you for your voice, your vision, and your dedication to ensuring others have opportunities to learn, lead, and thrive.
06/15/2026
Some moments represent far more than a ceremony.
At the Keys to Freedom Gala, Sun Gate Foundation Founder Suzanne Priest presented CEO Shamere McKenzie with a symbolic key. For many, it was a beautiful moment. For those who know the journey, it was something much deeper.
More than a decade ago, Suzanne had a vision that education could become a pathway to healing, independence, and freedom for survivors of human trafficking. She founded Sun Gate Foundation to help make that vision a reality.
Today, that vision is being carried forward by Shamere McKenzie, a survivor, advocate, and global leader whose life stands as proof of what is possible when courage meets opportunity. What began as a scholarship became a mission. What began as survival became leadership. What began with a dream has become a movement changing lives across the nation.
The passing of the key was a powerful reminder that this work is bigger than any one person. It is about opening doors, creating opportunities, and ensuring that survivors have the support they need not only to survive, but to thrive.
Together, we honor the vision that started it all and the leadership that continues to carry it forward.
What an incredible evening .
On Saturday, we gathered for the inaugural Keys to Freedom Gala and celebrated 12 years of opening doors through education, empowerment, and opportunity. Together, we honored survivor leaders, recognized champions of freedom, shared powerful stories of resilience, and raised support to help survivors of human trafficking pursue their educational goals and build brighter futures.
To every sponsor, partner, donor, volunteer, board member, speaker, performer, survivor leader, and guest who joined us, thank you. Your presence made this evening more than a gala. It became a powerful reminder of what is possible when a community comes together with purpose.
We are especially grateful to everyone who believes that survivors deserve access to education, opportunity, and the resources needed to thrive. Because of your support, lives will be changed and futures will be unlocked.
This was a night filled with hope, healing, inspiration, and action, and we are just getting started.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping us turn keys into freedom.
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Alexandria, VA
22304
Opening Hours
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 5pm |
| Sunday | 9am - 5pm |