Warren County Habitat Hosts First-Ever Sneaker Ball, Blending Fun with a Powerful Mission

Sneakers replaced stilettos, and mission took center stage at Warren County Habitat for Humanity’s inaugural Sneaker Ball, held this weekend to celebrate community, raise funds, and rally support for affordable housing efforts in the county.

The sold-out event, held in a ballroom filled with sparkling centerpieces and guests donning their most stylish kicks, highlighted how housing insecurity affects local families—and what’s being done to change that.

“Tonight, we celebrate community, creativity, and commitment,” said fundraising chair Sonya Wilkins as she welcomed guests. “Three things that make Warren County shine brighter every year.”

Keynote speaker Ken Knesh delivers an inspiring address at the Sneak Ball, highlighting the importance of community, resilience, and coming together to celebrate shared achievements.

The evening featured dinner, dancing, a live auction, and stories from local leaders who have witnessed the impact of Habitat’s work firsthand. One of the most powerful moments came during remarks from Ken Knesh, principal of Warren County High School, who spoke emotionally about the toll housing instability takes on students.

“You can tell the signs,” Knesh said. “Maybe a student doesn’t lift their head when you say hello. Or there’s an increase in irritability, which causes a referral to the office. Know your kids, you know the signs.”

He described how children living in cars, motels, or shifting between relatives’ homes are often absent, hungry, and unable to focus in class. “For many of them, there is no next time. No prom, no yearbook, no sports, no rite of passage, because they have no stable place to call home,” he said.

Knesh emphasized the role of schools as safe spaces for students, where they are seen, supported, and given a sense of stability. But he warned that even the best school can’t replace the need for a stable home.

“They are a byproduct of their surroundings,” Knesh said. “Together as a community, we can support our students by providing them with safe and affordable housing. We can give them the tools to be confident in who they are and to be proud of the community they call home.”

The message resonated with the more than 150 guests in attendance, who gave Knesh a standing ovation.

Andrea Ross, Executive Director of Warren County Habitat for Humanity, shares heartfelt remarks at the Sneak Ball, emphasizing the power of partnership and the impact of safe, affordable housing.

The evening also marked a moment of celebration and reflection for Andrea Ross, Executive Director of Warren County Habitat for Humanity, who has led the organization through years of transformation and growth.

“This year has been all about collaboration,” Ross told the crowd. “We made it a project to work with as many local organizations as we could. And you’ve shown up. You’ve had fun. But you’ve also helped build homes and hope.”

Ross highlighted a special donation partnership with CCAP (Congregational-Community Action Project), the local nonprofit that received more than 100 pairs of donated sneakers collected by Habitat from across the county.

“While we talk sneakers, we often talk about walking a mile in someone’s shoes,” Ross said. “It’s not always easy, but it keeps us humble if we take the time to see what our neighbors go through.”

In a touching moment, Ross credited community members Frank Stankiewicz of Green To Ground Electrical Services and Cody Warren of Warren-Lee Construction for stepping in when the organization was at risk of closure.

“Cody came to me and said, ‘What can I do?’” Ross recalled. “And because of that conversation, and the heart behind it, houses are going up on Osage Street right now.”

The Osage Street development, which now includes a duplex and single-family home under roof, is part of a larger vision to revitalize the historic neighborhood one home at a time.

Ross said the progress was about more than structures. “Habitat is a community organization. And this community, no matter our differences, is good at its core. We might not always agree, but when it comes time to help our neighbors, we show up.”

The Sneaker Ball also included heartfelt speeches from outgoing Habitat president Debra Siksay, who reflected on the organization’s journey from near-merger to a fully independent and thriving local chapter.

“We are building physically, spiritually, and emotionally,” Siksay said. “It’s changing lives, and I am humbled to have been part of it.”

As guests later lined up to compete in the “Best Sneaker” contest, cheered on by music from the DJ booth, it was clear the event had struck a rare balance, blending fun and fashion with a mission that deeply matters. The winners of the sneaker contest were Stephanie Myers and Andrew Ross, each recognized for sporting standout style that embodied the evening’s spirit, blending purpose with personality.

Stephanie Myers and Andrew Ross were crowned Best Sneakers of the Night at Warren County Habitat for Humanity’s inaugural Sneaker Ball, showing off standout style that paired perfectly with the evening’s purpose. Photo courtesy of Leah Howard, Leah Faith Photography

In the words of Principal Knesh: “Visibility is key. Showing the community that you care can leave a powerful impression.” And on this night, Warren County Habitat made that impression loud and clear.