Ignite Your Camp Fire

Art has been part of Camp Fire since its beginning in the early years of the last century.

Art is transformative. It gives us a way to express emotions we can’t put into words. It allows us to connect to our surroundings. It empowers us to transform ourselves by transforming a canvas into a painting, a piece of paper into a photograph, a lump of clay into a sculpture, or a skein of wool into a tapestry.

In 1985, Sunnie LeBlanc had a vision. An artist herself, Sunnie envisioned an art auction as a way to raise funds for Camp Fire First Texas (CFFT). While Fort Worth was quite art savvy, thanks in large part to our museums, no one in Fort Worth was using art to raise money for nonprofits. And thus, Camp Fire An Artists’ Christmas was born.

Fast forward to 2025, and CFFT is ready to start its next chapter.

Ignite: An Evening of Art and Impact brings CFFT’s beloved art-as-fundraising into the 21st century while remaining true to Camp Fire’s beginnings and Sunnie’s vision on Saturday, October 25 at William Campbell Gallery.

“Art is one of our top five programs,” said Sara Mitchell, CFFT’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “Ignite [sic] feels really true to our roots, our present, and our future.”

CFFT calls Ignite: An Evening of Art and Impact a “gallery night with purpose.” Instead of a grand gala, Ignite is more casual. Stroll through the 65 juried works (plus a youth art display of 50+ works) in William Campbell Gallery while noshing on delicious bites from Magdalena’s and listening to music by Zuriel Merek. Nöelle Overturf, a local artist, will be creating a work that will be included in the evening’s silent auction as you sip and stroll.

Photo courtesy of CFFT

(Incidentally, William Campbell Gallery received an award at the inaugural An Artists’ Christmas for bringing together so many local artists. Four decades later, they are still helping CFFT.)

If you’re not able to attend Ignite, you can still bid on the art in the online auction. Opening on October 17, one week prior to the event, the online auction allows you to bid from the comfort of your own laptop or phone.

“If you’re out of town on the night of Ignite, you can still bid,” Sara Mitchell said. “We’ve got something for the introverts and something for the extroverts. Camp Fire welcomes all,” she laughed.

Nöelle Overturf Live Painting
Photo courtesy of CFFT

Tickets for Ignite: An Evening of Art and Impact are $100 each or four for $375 and are available here.

“One of the amazing things about Camp Fire that I just love,” Sara said, “Is that we’re constantly evolving to meet today’s needs. By changing the evening’s format, we’re meeting people in the way they want to attend events, and we’re putting more money into the programs these events support.” 

Ignite: An Evening of Art and Impact

Saturday, October 25, 2025

      Youth Artist Reception: 1:30 to 3 p.m.
      VIP Reception: 5 to 6 p.m.
      Gallery Night and Silent Auction: 6 to 8 p.m.

William Campbell Gallery
217 Foch Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Tickets: $100 each or $375 for four, available here