3rd Annual
Black Tie & Boots 2024
October 12, 2024 · River Ranch Stockyards, Fort Worth
The Stockyards came alive on October 12th. Sold out before the doors opened, the CloudDancer Gala 2024 Black Tie & Boots Gala was a night the CloudDancer community won’t soon forget — and a milestone for the veterans we serve.
River Ranch Stockyards in Fort Worth has a way of making people feel the weight of Texas tradition — and this year, that backdrop made everything hit harder. Guests arrived in their finest boots and black tie, greeted by the sounds of country music rolling through the Stockyards. By the time the program started, the energy in the room made one thing clear: the mission was growing and the community was growing with it.
The evening raised $73,264 — from 82 supporters who dug deep at the live auction, bought tables, and showed up for veterans chasing a cockpit. Every dollar goes toward a private pilot certificate, the single credential the GI Bill still doesn’t cover.
A Sold-Out Night
For the first time in the gala’s history, we sold out in advance. The Black Tie & Boots Sold Out banner went up, and supporters who’d waited too long were left off the list — which means 2025 came with even higher expectations. That kind of momentum is rare for a three-year-old nonprofit. It’s a testament to what Joe Johnson and the team have built: an organization that earns loyalty because it delivers results.
Scholarship Recipients
The moment every gala builds toward: the scholarship presentation. This year’s recipients — veterans with honorable discharges, valid FAA medical certificates, and a fire to fly — were announced to a standing room that understood exactly what it means to chase a dream after a uniform. Their names, their stories, and their paths forward are the measure of everything this organization does.
The People Behind It
An event like this doesn’t happen without a board and a volunteer crew that treats it like a personal mission. The 2024 gala was backed by sponsors including AW Streeter LLC, Creative Annuals, Dream Flights, Flying Circus, and the Gold Sponsor tier whose generosity year over year is building something lasting. Below, the team that made October 12th happen.
As the night wrapped up and the last bids were tallied, one thing was certain: the CloudDancer gala had outgrown its own expectations. Sold out, fully funded, and with a room full of people already asking about next year — the 4th annual was already writing itself.
The CloudDancer Gala 2024 Mission Continues
Each year this community shows up bigger and gives harder. If you believe veterans deserve a seat in the cockpit, there’s a place for you — as a donor, a sponsor, or a future recipient.