String Fling and Online Auction

With your support, String Fling 2026 EXCEEDED our fundraising goal, raising over $410,000. If you sponsored, attended, bid in the online auction, or donated at the Fund-A-Cause, THANK YOU.

Mark your calendar for 2027:

Benefit Gala: Saturday, April 17, 2027

Online Auction: Sunday, April 11 at 2PM through April 17, 2027 at 10PM

What is String Fling?

String Fling is the Center for Puppetry Arts’ signature gala and online auction raising over $400,000 each year to support the Center’s operations, including theatrical productions, museum exhibitions, and arts-infused educational programming of the largest nonprofit dedicated to puppetry in the nation.

Each year, the evening brings together arts supporters, contributors to the field of puppetry, and friends from across the country for a night of spectacle and support. The Center’s popular online auction culminates on the evening of String Fling. Anyone can participate in the auction – near and far – and support the Center!

String Fling 2026 marked the first in a series of galas leading to the Center’s 50th Anniversary in 2028, honoring the past while propelling puppetry forward. We’re bringing friends of puppetry to the table for one-of-a-kind experiences you won’t find anywhere else. The 2026 event featured special guest Julio Torres, whose whimsical, inventive storytelling perfectly embodies the spirit of String Fling.

Your attendance and support through String Fling help make all of this possible, and keep puppetry alive and thriving! Please consider donating or getting involved!

For more event information about 2027 String Fling, please contact:

Stephanie Carter, Development Manager

StephanieCarter@puppet.org

A few memories from String Flings of the past….

Thank You to the 2026 Sponsors & Patrons

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Warner Bros. Discovery

SUPPORTER
Georgia Power | Inspire Brands | James Dean & Pete the Cat | Juxtapose Studio | King & Spalding | Perkins&Will | Printpack and the Love Family Foundation | Mr. and Mrs. H. Bronson Smith | Synovus | Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits | Tower Lights

CONTRIBUTOR
Acuity | Acuity: PRIDE ERG | Bennett Thrasher | Build Technology Group | Tom and Penny Clements | Sherrod DeGrippo | Domain Capital Group | Fifth Third Group | Georgia Tech College of Design | Get Engaged Media | Gunderson Dettmer | Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP | Beth and Ross Schiavo | SouthState Bank

PUPPETEER
Atlanta Braves | Vanessa and Jeffrey Blake | Judy and Ed Garland | Sydney and Joel Langdon | The Realff Family | Ryan and Dana Smith | John Tester and Joe Brooks | Kathy Waller and Kenneth Goggins

MARIONETTE
Arnall Golden Gregory LLP | Coxe Curry & Associates | Go West Creative | Margo Brinton and Eldon Park | Gail and John Chandler | Shelley Hoffmann & Scott Bendzlowicz | Vir and Lucy Nanda | Allen W. Yee

PATRON
Scott Autrey | Lori Federico | Russell Leone

2026 Event Committee

Iymaani Aytes

Joseph Brooks 

Sherrod DeGrippo

Judy Garland

Alison Gooch

Thom Henkel

Shelley Hoffmann

Janet King

Sophie Merven

Betsy Oliver

Amy Rees

Addison Thornton