Passport to the Runway

World Relief Quad Cities invites you to this year's annual gala, Passport to the Runway. Join us to celebrate the many cultures that make up the heart of the Midwest with an evening of dinner, drinks, a silent auction, a showcase of international fashions, and more.

Save the Date 2023 Gala (Facebook Ad) (1) - IV

May 4, 2023

6:00PM - 9:00PM

Quad City Botanical Center

2525 4th Ave, Rock Island, IL

In 2022, our community became a safe haven for nearly 500 individuals seeking refuge from war and disaster. These are our neighbors. Their culture – food, music, fashion – is part of what makes our QC culture so vibrant. With your help, they have grown past survival, and they are flourishing. On May 4th, men and women from 10 different countries will represent their journey by walking the runway: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Mexico, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Myanmar, and first-generation Americans. Reserve your Passport to the Runway seats below to celebrate and learn from our refugee neighbors while taking action so more people like them have a safe place to call home.

Highlight: Table Runners by Zabia

Zabia is from Afghanistan, and she and her husband came to the U.S. in August of 2021. They stayed on a military base until they were relocated to Moline in January of 2022 to join Zabia's sister and brother-in-law. She recently welcomed a baby boy and plans to work as a seamstress in the area to support her family. While she applies for jobs, she's also supporting our gala by collecting donated fabric and sewing table runners for our event tables. Zabia's table runners will be up for sale at the end of the night.