Courtside with Friends was a huge success. Thank you, Billings!
Our first annual Courtside with Friends brought our community together in support of long-term, professional mentorship for children in Yellowstone County, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who made it possible.
Thursday, September 10, 2026 | Yellowstone Country Club, Billings, Montana
What a night, Billings.
To everyone who joined us, sponsored the event, donated an auction item, raised a paddle, volunteered, or helped bring Courtside with Friends to life: thank you.
Our first Courtside with Friends was a huge success, and we are so grateful for the way our community showed up in support of Friends of the Children - Eastern Montana.
Every reservation, sponsorship, donation, auction bid, and gift was an investment in our community’s children and in the long-term, professional mentorship that helps them build brighter futures.
This was more than a successful first event. It was a powerful reminder of what is possible when our community comes together for kids.
A Story That Reminded Us Why We Gathered
James "Jimmy" Tyrrell was 8 years old when he was paired with a paid, professional mentor in Portland. His Friend was John Foster. They went to Blazer games and snowboarding, and some afternoons they just sat in a bookstore and read together. John was still there when Jimmy graduated in 2008.
Eighteen years later, Jimmy has three children of his own and works as a Behavioral Health Program Coordinator with the Oregon Judicial Department, supporting the Marion, Multnomah, Benton, and Yamhill county circuit courts. In his words, "This program saved my life."
Jimmy joined us in Billings to share what that 12+ year relationship meant in his own life and what it can mean for the children Friends of the Children serves today. We are so grateful to him for sharing his story with our community.
Why This Event Matters
At Friends of the Children - Eastern Montana, we believe every child deserves a long-term, stable, supportive relationship with a mentor who stays. 12+ years, no matter what.
Our professional mentors (Friends) walk alongside youth facing the greatest obstacles in Yellowstone County, building trust, supporting strengths, and connecting families to resources through our two-generation approach.
Courtside with Friends was our chapter’s first annual signature fundraiser, and our community showed up in an incredible way. The support generated through this event will help sustain long-term, professional mentorship for children and families across Yellowstone County.
You Made the First One Unforgettable
From the afternoon pickleball tournament to dinner, stories from our community, Jimmy Tyrrell’s remarks, the live auction, and an incredible show of support during the paddle raise, Courtside with Friends was everything we hoped our first signature fundraiser could be.
We are already looking forward to doing it again.
Stay tuned for the 2027 Courtside with Friends save the date!
With Special Thanks to Our Chairwomen
Lisa Thompson and Lyndsey Geering helped turn the idea for Courtside with Friends into an incredible first-year event. We are deeply grateful for their leadership, generosity, and commitment to Friends of the Children and the children and families we serve.
The Impact of Your Investment
FOR EVERY $1 INVESTED in Friends of the Children, our community benefits over $7 in saved social costs. Helping one child saves our community $900,000.
Thank You to Our Lead Sponsors
Courtside with Friends would not have been possible without the extraordinary support of Kampgrounds of America, Inc. and Thompson Family Dentistry, our 2026 Lead Sponsors.
Their investment helped launch an event that brought our community together in support of long-term, professional mentorship for children in Yellowstone County. We are tremendously grateful for their partnership.
Thank You to Our Courtside with Friends Sponsors
This event was possible because businesses, families, and community partners believed in it from the beginning. Thank you for investing in Friends of the Children - Eastern Montana and, most importantly, in the children and families we serve.
Auction & In-Kind Partners
We are also incredibly grateful to the businesses and individuals who contributed auction items, goods, services, time, and talent to make Courtside with Friends possible.
Billings Clinic · Faith Chapel · Community Seven Television · The Hardy Family
We’ll See You Courtside in 2027
Our first Courtside with Friends set the bar high, and we can’t wait to do it again.
Stay tuned for next year’s save the date.