Join the Evening
Spend an evening in good company while celebrating the arts and supporting CFA's young storytellers. Join us at the True Reformer Building for our inaugural cocktail fundraiser.
Explore TicketsThursday, December 10, 2026 · 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
CFA Night Out
An evening of community, creativity, and possibility.
Join the Canady Foundation for the Arts for the inaugural CFA Night Out, a cocktail fundraiser celebrating the Greater Washington arts community and the power of the arts in the lives of young people. On December 10, we will gather at the historic True Reformer Building to honor Hana Sharif and invest in the next generation of storytellers.
Honoring Hana Sharif
True Reformer Building · Lankford Auditorium · Washington, DC
Helping the next generation find its voice.
The Canady Foundation for the Arts prepares underrepresented storytellers ages 3 to 18 through culturally responsive arts education, theater, and media training. Through improv, acting, production, and immersive learning, CFA helps young people develop their creativity, build confidence, and strengthen the skills they need to navigate life's challenges.
CFA's work also connects artistic development with leadership and professional preparation. Programs such as the Broadway Intensive help young artists imagine and prepare for careers on and off the stage, creating pathways into the performing arts and the broader creative economy. CFA's mission is to ensure that young artists of color are not only seen and heard, but fully prepared to lead in the creative economy.
CFA Night Out marks a new chapter for CFA: our first ever cocktail gala, and a night dedicated to celebrating the artists, educators, and change makers who bring the performing arts to life in our community.
Ways to participate
Become a Sponsor
Help make this first CFA Night Out a strong beginning. Sponsorship offers individuals, businesses, and community partners a meaningful way to invest in the next generation of storytellers.
Explore Sponsorships
Support Young Storytellers
Fuel the Broadway Intensive, arts education, and the Faces of CFA campaign and help us reach our goal of raising $100,000+. Your support can make a difference whether or not you attend.
Make a Gift
Our Inaugural Honoree
Hana Sharif
Artistic excellence. Leadership. A more inclusive future.
We are proud to honor Hana Sharif, whose artistry, leadership, and advocacy have helped shape American theater and opened doors for the next generation.
Her work offers a powerful example of what representation and creative opportunity can make possible, values at the heart of CFA's mission.
At our inaugural CFA Night Out, we celebrate her contributions and the possibilities her example creates for the next generation.
Hosted By
Malik Yoba
Malik Yoba is an actor, director, and producer known for his roles in New York Undercover, Cool Runnings, and Empire. A longtime youth and community advocate, he joins the inaugural CFA Night Out as our host, bringing a shared commitment to empowering the next generation of storytellers.
Be Part of CFA Night Out
Join us for the evening, become a sponsor, or make a gift. Your support ensures that the next generations of artists, performers, and cultural leaders have the tools, training, and opportunities to thrive.
Tickets
Celebrate with us on Thursday, December 10, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the True Reformer Building in Washington, DC.
Last day to buy tickets: December 5, 2026.
General Admission
$250
$250 of the ticket price is tax-deductible.
Includes admission to the full evening, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m..
Sponsorship Opportunities
Invest in the future of storytelling. Become a sponsor of CFA Night Out and help provide the tools, training, and opportunities that emerging artists need to thrive. We welcome individuals, businesses, and foundations who share our commitment to arts education and the next generation of cultural leaders.
Sponsorships at $5,000 and above include a formal invitation to CFA's donor circle for the upcoming theater season in Washington, DC.
More Ways to Partner
Not every partnership fits neatly into a sponsorship tier, and we welcome creative ways to support this milestone event.
In-Kind Sponsorship
Donate goods or services in support of the event: catering, beverage service, decor, photography and videography, printing, or auction items. In-kind partners receive recognition commensurate with the value of their contribution.
Media and Promotional Partnership
Help amplify CFA Night Out through press coverage, social media promotion, or cross-marketing. Media partners receive co-branded recognition across CFA's promotional materials and channels.
For questions or partnerships, contact danyel@canadyfoundationarts.org.
Help Us Raise $100,000+
CFA Night Out aims to raise $100,000+ to support the Broadway Intensive, arts education initiatives, and the Faces of CFA campaign. Your participation helps expand access to the training and opportunities that young storytellers need to grow as artists and leaders.
What makes CFA special is how we use the arts to help young people find their voices, build confidence, and develop skills to navigate life's challenges. If you cannot join us on December 10, you can still be part of what this evening makes possible.
Together, we do not just support the arts. We are building a legacy.
The People Behind the Evening
A Message from the Gala Chair
"The arts help us see ourselves more clearly, understand one another more deeply, and imagine what is possible. That is why I am proud to chair the inaugural CFA Night Out. I hope you will join us as a supporter, partner, and guest as we begin a new tradition for the Greater Washington arts community and invest in the young people who will help shape its future."
Kevin Dedner
2026 Gala Chair
Trystin Kier Francis
Board Chair, Canady Foundation for the Arts
Host Committee
- Adra Williams
- Kadrieka Maiden
- Patrice McNeill
- To be announced
- To be announced
- To be announced
Plan Your Evening
Thursday, December 10, 2026 · 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
True Reformer Building · Lankford Auditorium
1200 U Street, NW · Washington, DC 20009
For event questions or to discuss access needs, please contact info@canadyfoundationarts.org.
Make It a Night That Matters.
Join us in celebrating Hana Sharif, investing in young storytellers, and beginning a new tradition for the Canady Foundation for the Arts.