4th Annual
Black Tie & Boots 2025
October 4, 2025 · Fort Worth Stockyards Station
Fort Worth put on its boots again. On October 4th, the CloudDancer Gala 2025 brought the community together as they gathered at the Stockyards Station for our fourth annual Black Tie & Boots Gala — and it was the most powerful night in the organization’s history.
The evening opened with the familiar sounds of country music drifting through the stockyards as guests arrived in their finest — boots polished, hats in place, hearts full of purpose. What started in 2022 as a small gathering to honor Ashton Johnson and his dream of flight has grown into one of North Texas’s most anticipated philanthropic events. This year, supporters packed the house, and the energy from the moment the doors opened made it clear: the mission is resonating.
The live auction drew the crowd in tight. Bid paddles flew as supporters competed for a lineup that ranged from handcrafted Western gear to once-in-a-lifetime aviation experiences — every lot raising funds that go directly toward a veteran’s private pilot certificate. Aero Crew News was on the ground covering the night, and CBS 1016 was in the house, helping carry the mission beyond the Stockyards and into the broader community.
This year’s gala was made possible by the extraordinary generosity of our sponsors, including the Gary Sinise Foundation, Thrust Flight, Plunkett Aviation, The Rec Room, AW Streeter LLC, Tuttle Brands, and HALO — organizations that believe, as we do, that a veteran with wings is a veteran with a future.
Every dollar raised on this night goes toward a veteran’s private pilot certificate — the one credential the GI Bill doesn’t cover. This gala is how we close that gap.
Joe Johnson, Founder — Ashton Johnson Memorial CloudDancer Scholarship
Each year, we commission a challenge coin — a tradition rooted in military culture — to mark the evening and honor those who make it possible. The 2025 coin is presented to our scholarship recipients and key supporters as a tangible reminder of why this community shows up year after year.
The CloudDancer Gala 2025 Mission Continues
Ashton Johnson never got to finish his. Every veteran we put in the cockpit carries that forward. If you believe a uniform earns the right to fly, join us — as a donor, a sponsor, or a future recipient.