The applause faded as the final item of the auction was won, and the host returned to the stage, smiling as he raised his microphone once again.
“And now, for the most important part of the evening,” he announced warmly, “we invite everyone to participate in our call for donations. You may raise your paddles if you’d like to pledge support, or feel free to scan the QR codes placed on your tables. Every amount goes a long way in changing lives.”
Guests around the ballroom started raising their paddles once more, some scanned the QR codes while others quietly approached the donation booths on the side. Lara didn’t hesitate. She lifted her paddle and made her contribution. It wasn’t a grand gesture, but it was sincere—her way of supporting a cause that clearly mattered to many in the room.
