Scholars’ faces lit up as they opened their brand-new ODA sweatshirts – a simple gift that brought big smiles and even bigger ODA pride. That excitement carried through the night on December 11, 2025, when nearly 600 scholars, families, staff, and community partners gathered at Windows On The River for Open Doors Academy’s annual Family Holiday Dinner.
This night is about more than celebration. It’s one of the ways we strengthen community, creating a shared experience where families feel welcomed, scholars feel seen, and the relationships that power our programming have room to grow outside the school day.
Three floors of the venue buzzed with holiday energy: siblings shared food, families posed for photos with Santa, and the dance floor stayed packed as DJ LO-KEY spun everyone’s favorite hits.
At one point, a scholar pulled us aside and said, “I’ve never been to a party like this!” That moment captured what the Holiday Dinner is designed to do: give families a joyful, affirming experience, and remind every scholar that they belong here.
From the laughter of scholars to the music filling the room, the evening was full of warmth and celebration. We can’t wait to celebrate with scholars and families next year.
