At its core, Emerald City Designs in Farmington Hills is an events business, but the KIDSgala that David C. McKnight founded in memory of a little girl is probably nearest and dearest to his heart.
Through the foundation he established in his own name, McKnight has been holding KIDSgala for more than 10 years. The original intent was to honor young Nicole Marie Burton, daughter of his high school friend who was battling leukemia at the time; the 9-year-old didn’t make it.
As McKnight tells it, he attended his 20th high school reunion and reconnected with close friend and Nicole’s mom, Shelly Lang Burton. “Shelly Lang Burton … and I met in middle school,” McKnight explains. “I was personally bullied, and Shelly would stand up for me, which was cool. Twenty years later, witnessing the experience of Nicole Marie and her treatments showed me the stress and sorrow that the procedures and times at the hospital brought.”
McKnight says Nicole was the kind of kid who liked to make other people smile by telling jokes or wearing colored wigs to appointments. “She brought much cheer to others, and her mom, Shelly, and I thought, how can we do the same for others, making it a full circle?”
Nicole was supposed to be recognized during the inaugural KIDSgala FUNdraiser. “Unfortunately, the planned gifted celebration turned into her memorial luncheon,” McKnight says.
The first annual FUNdraiser was held in August 2014. The theme was an all-white color scheme, McKnight recalls, with Emerald City Designs executing the theme each year. Guests were invited to dress in white for the first gathering, which raised more than $100,000. “We carried out the white party theme until right before COVID-19 in 2019,” McKnight says. “Since then, we have created many different embellishments from balloons, flora, and lighting to create different atmopsheres for our guests to enjoy.”
In addition to the annual FUNdraiser, the foundation has hosted nearly 100 parties, celebrating dozens of children locally with their family and friends.
This year’s 10th annual gala, with David McKnight and husband Jim Dunn as honorary chairs, will be held Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit. Tickets will go on sale in mid-September, and attendance will be capped at around 300 people. An annual golf outing and fundraiser is set for Sept. 16.
