Stars and Six Strings Masquerade Party Helps Children Find Courage

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – Music, masks and meaningful moments filled the National Corvette Museum Saturday night as the Center for Courageous Kids hosted its annual Stars and Six Strings Masquerade Party. The elegant evening brought together community members with one shared goal, to help children living with serious medical conditions experience the joy of summer camp at no cost.

The event is the center’s largest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds going directly toward providing weeklong camp sessions for children who face lifelong illnesses or disabilities. Each camper attends for free, giving families a rare opportunity to send their children to a medically safe environment where they can simply be kids.

This year’s masquerade theme added a deeper meaning to the night. Guests arrived in ornate masks that symbolized the courage of children who often hide their symptoms in daily life to feel like they belong. Organizers said the theme mirrors the camp’s mission by helping kids remove their figurative masks and embrace who they are without fear or judgment.

“This year is especially fun because it’s a masquerade party,” said Emily Cosby, communications and marketing manager for the Center for Courageous Kids. “We’re celebrating the idea that some of our campers have to mask their symptoms in everyday life, but at camp, they get to take that mask off and just be a kid.”

Cosby said the annual celebration always brings out strong community support, with the event selling out quickly each year. Local leaders, businesses and families filled the room, reflecting the widespread belief in the center’s mission and the impact it has on children across Kentucky and beyond.

In addition to dinner and live music, guests enjoyed a bourbon raffle and a touching video featuring one of the campers sharing her story. Organizers said moments like these remind everyone why the fundraiser matters, because each donation helps a child experience independence, confidence and friendship.

For the Center for Courageous Kids, the night was more than a gala. It was a reminder of how community generosity can change lives, ensuring that children with medical challenges continue to have a place where they can feel accepted, celebrated and free to be themselves.