2026 Boise Metro Chamber Annual Gala and Auction Celebrates the Power of Sports and CommunityMore than 900 business, civic and community leaders gathered at Boise Centre West on September 22 for the Boise Metro Chamber’s 2026 Annual Gala & Auction, an evening centered on “The Power of Sports: And How They Build Strong Communities.”

As the Chamber’s premier annual fundraiser, the Gala supports its work to advocate for local businesses, educate and empower members, and cultivate leadership throughout the Treasure Valley. This year’s event used sports as the backdrop for a larger conversation about the relationships, teamwork and shared experiences that help communities thrive.

Throughout the evening, guests connected with local sports organizations, participated in interactive experiences, bid on silent and live auction packages and heard from two Idaho athletes whose experiences demonstrated how lessons learned through sports can extend far beyond competition.

Building a Championship CultureSuper Bowl XLV champion, combat veteran and Boise restaurateur Daryn Colledge took guests through the many “arenas” that have shaped his life, from growing up in North Pole, Alaska, to playing on Boise State’s blue turf, spending nine seasons in the NFL, serving in Afghanistan with the Idaho Army National Guard and eventually becoming a Treasure Valley business owner.

At each stage, Colledge said the fundamentals remained remarkably similar: build trust, establish a strong culture, understand your role and show up for the people around you.

Drawing from his experience as an offensive lineman, Colledge spoke about the importance of people whose work makes success possible even when they are rarely the ones receiving recognition. He connected that lesson directly to the business and community leaders in the room.

His time with the Green Bay Packers reinforced another lesson: championship culture is built long before the biggest moments arrive. Colledge recalled making a false start during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLV and initially believing his mistake could cost his team the game. Instead, his teammates rallied, recovered and ultimately won.

The experience, he explained, demonstrated the value of trust built through years of practice, difficult conversations and shared accountability. Those same principles followed him through military service and eventually into entrepreneurship.

Colledge also reflected on Boise’s role in his own story. Boise State gave a young athlete from Alaska an opportunity, and the community later became the place he chose to return to, serve and build businesses.

His challenge to those in attendance was to consider who had once opened a door for them and, more importantly, whose door they could now open.

“I cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that I can do.” — Jana Stanfield

For Colledge, strengthening a community does not require one person to do everything. It requires people willing to fully contribute their part.

Redefining What Is Possible
Paralympic gold medalist, world champion athlete and Idaho public servant Muffy Davis brought another perspective to the Gala’s theme and the power of sports.

Growing up in Sun Valley, Davis began skiing at age three and decided at seven years old that she would one day compete in the Olympics. By 14, she had been named to the U.S. development team and was moving steadily toward that goal.

Then, at 16, a skiing accident left her paralyzed.

Davis shared the uncertainty she experienced following the accident and the difficulty of imagining a future that looked different from the one she had planned. Over time, however, she came to understand that different did not mean less.

After discovering adaptive skiing and the Paralympic movement, Davis returned to competition. Nine years to the day after her accident, she was named to the U.S. Paralympic Team and went on to win bronze in Nagano. Four years later, she earned three silver medals at the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Her athletic career still had another chapter.

After becoming a mother, Davis took up hand cycling, initially as a way to get back into shape. That new pursuit eventually took her back to the Paralympic stage. At the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, she won three gold medals.

The path was not the one Davis envisioned as a seven-year-old ski racer, but the goal remained possible.

Her message to attendees focused on three lessons that helped her navigate that journey: continue pursuing meaningful goals, recognize the power of attitude and build strong support systems. She also emphasized that maintaining a positive outlook does not mean ignoring difficult moments. Resilience, she explained, includes giving yourself permission to experience setbacks before deciding to move forward again.

Davis also emphasized that no achievement happens alone. She pointed to the coaches, family members, teammates, sponsors and communities that supported her throughout her career, connecting that experience to the relationships businesses build through organizations such as the Boise Metro Chamber.

Sports as a Community Connector
Emceed by Idaho native and longtime sports industry leader Angela Taylor-Lee, the Gala also featured regional sports partners including the Albertsons Boise Open, Athletic Club Boise, Boise Hawks, Boise State University Athletics, Idaho Steelheads and Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Guests also participated in silent and live auctions, with proceeds supporting the Chamber’s mission and its work on behalf of the Treasure Valley business community.

Supporting Northwest Association for Blind Athletes

The evening also placed the community impact of sports front and center through the Chamber’s 2026 nonprofit community partner, the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA).

Through sports and recreation, NWABA creates opportunities for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to participate, compete, build confidence and connect with their communities. Gala attendees put that support into action through the evening’s paddle drop, raising more than $8,000 for the organization.

The partnership brought the Gala’s theme full circle. The power of sports extends beyond what happens on a field, court, course or mountain. The lessons and connections built through sports show up in everyday life, in the workplace and throughout our communities, creating opportunities for people to participate, belong, challenge themselves and support one another.

Stronger Together
Thank you to our sponsors, partners, volunteers, auction donors and more than 900 guests who came together to make the 2026 Annual Gala & Auction possible.

The evening demonstrated how lessons learned through sports, including trust, perseverance, teamwork and supporting others, can extend into our businesses and communities and help build a stronger Treasure Valley.

Thank You to Our 2026 Gala Sponsors
The Boise Metro Chamber thanks the sponsors whose support helped make the 2026 Annual Gala & Auction possible.

2026 Gala Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor: Blue Cross of Idaho

Platinum Sponsor: Alaska Airlines

Gold Sponsors: Hardin Sanitation, ICCU, Southwest Airlines

Silver Sponsors:
Albertsons, Boise Centre, Cascadia Healthcare, Colliers, Corso Italian Steak/The James Kitchen & Bar, Delta Air Lines, Hawley Troxell, Intermountain Gas Company, KTVB, Micron, Simplot

Office Technology Sponsor: Allied Business Solutions

Bronze Sponsors:
CapEd Credit Union, Hensel Phelps, Idaho Housing and Finance Association, Idaho Power Company, Kirton McConkie, PacificSource Health Plans, Procter & Gamble, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Saint Alphonsus, Silver Star Communications, Sparklight, St. Luke’s Health Plan, U.S. Bank

On Sept. 30, 2025, the Boise Metro Chamber hosted its annual gala and auction downtown at the Boise Centre. This year’s theme was Innovation Through Collaboration. Continuing its tradition of partnering with local organizations, the Chamber highlighted past Trailhead Boise success stories.

The companies featured included:

Idaho Barkery, a woman-owned dog treat company based in Boise, founded by a pharmacist to help dogs with severe allergies. The company creates small-batch, organic, plant-based treats that are pharmacist-formulated and lab-tested, with no fillers or artificial additives. It also offers custom-branded treats for events and retailers and has earned recognition through local entrepreneurship awards.

Soleni Shoes, a Boise-based company offering stylish orthopedic flats for women seeking comfort without sacrificing fashion. Founded by a medical professional, the brand uses patented three-point ortho-technology for arch support, heel stability and a wider toe box. All shoes are crafted in North America with sustainable leather, blending health-conscious design and elegance.

Lovery, a lifestyle and gifting brand known for its curated spa sets and cruelty-free bath products made with essential oils. Established in 2016, the company emphasizes sustainability and paraben-free formulas, offering gift baskets for personal and corporate occasions. Its products are available online and in major retail stores nationwide.

​ERTH Beverage Company, based in Boise and Garden City, produces sparkling switchels — functional sodas made with vinegar, ginger and honey for natural hydration and gut health. Founded by a husband-and-wife team, ERTH focuses on clean, locally sourced ingredients and bold flavors like raspberry-ginger and turmeric-lemon-ginger. Its beverages are distributed across the Treasure Valley and have earned recognition for innovation in craft drinks.
Also included among the featured speakers were two high school students from the R.I.S.E. Program who developed an AI program that helps identify potential health issues in household pets before visiting the vet — “telehealth for your pet.”

The event also featured a fireside chat with moderator Faisal Shah, Auction Frogs founder and CEO Kristi Saucerman, and SWEAR founder and CEO Jason Crawforth.

The Chamber raised more than $10,000 for Trailhead Boise through its raffle.

The Boise Metro Chamber’s Annual Gala & Auction is one of the largest events of its kind in the Treasure Valley and serves as the Chamber’s largest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds support the Chamber’s mission to advance business, advocate for the business community and create opportunities for tourism growth.

This event would not be possible with out our sponsors:
​PLATINUM: Alaska Airlines
GOLD: Albertsons, ICCU and Southwest Airlines

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