Matt Berthot’s Voices of Hope lifts BetterALife’s 10th gala past $100K

Matt Berthot’s new children’s choir, Voices of Hope, made its debut at BetterALife’s 10th anniversary gala in Reston, helping cap a record night for the Northern Virginia nonprofit. The event raised more than $100,000, doubled its fundraising goal and included a state Senate resolution honoring the group’s decade of service.

Why it matters: - BetterALife more than doubled its $50,000 gala goal, bringing in over $100,000 for local children. - The fundraising boost supports the nonprofit’s work ending childhood hunger and building confidence through education and mentorship. - The 10th anniversary event also marked formal recognition from Virginia state leaders for a decade of community service.

What happened: - BetterALife held its 10th anniversary gala on September 26, 2026, at the AC Hotel Marriott in Reston Town Center. - Matt Berthot, founder of Voice By Matt, debuted a new children’s choir called Voices of Hope at the event. - Virginia State Senator Russet Perry presented Senate Joint Resolution 200 honoring BetterALife’s 10 years of service. - BetterALife Founder and CEO Elizabeth Ford said the young performers “stole the show with their little smiles and beautiful voices.”

The details: - Voices of Hope includes local girls ages 10 to 11, from third grade through middle school, who take part in BetterALife’s after-school programs. - Berthot volunteered to form the choir a year earlier at BetterALife’s prior anniversary celebration. - The girls briefly considered the name “Elizabeth’s Minions” before choosing Voices of Hope. - The choir rehearses weekly. - Winter performances are planned at nursing homes, local businesses and community events across Purcellville and Reston. - Supporters can donate to BetterALife at betteralife.org/donate.

Between the lines: - The choir gave BetterALife a public-facing example of its broader mission, connecting after-school programming with visible community engagement. - Berthot’s work with the choir mirrors his coaching message: helping people find confidence and use their voices in public. - The gala’s results suggest donor enthusiasm remains strong as the nonprofit enters its next decade. - BetterALife’s scale in FY2025 also shows the organization is operating well beyond a single-event fundraising model, with more than 10,000 households served, 75,000 pounds of food distributed and 8,000 weekend food bags provided.

What’s next: - Voices of Hope will continue weekly rehearsals and add winter performances in Northern Virginia. - BetterALife will use gala proceeds to support its anti-hunger and mentorship programs. - Berthot said he is available for voice lessons, media interviews and speaking and emcee engagements through his publicist, Jasmine Bloemhof of Bloom Into The Spotlight™.

The bottom line: - BetterALife’s anniversary gala turned into a milestone fundraiser, but the biggest takeaway may be the child-led performance that tied the nonprofit’s mission to a new, public symbol of hope.