By: Eva Keller
Attend any 500+ fundraisers orchestrated by event experts Erica Helphand and Colleen Healy Fitzgerald. You’ll find yourself learning more about the cause that brought you and leaving more inspired than ever. As founders of the nonprofit-focused event production company OP 3 Events, this formidable female duo views every gathering as a chance to powerfully unite people and ignite deeper engagement for various causes.
“We create spaces where folks join forces for a greater good. We set the table for them…events are hospitality. When you feel your actions connect with others to drive real change, that sense of community and power sticks with you,” Erica explains.
Erica and Colleen transform event fundraising from transactional to transformative by focusing on human connections. They pour creative passion into designing experiences where participants feel seen, heard, and supported by a network rallying around the issues they care most about.
The raw data speaks volumes – more than 500 events in 48 cities have collectively raised over $600 million for impact-driven causes. But OP 3 Events measures success by more than dollars and cents. They find magic in sparking understanding between diverse groups, fostering belonging, and awakening camaraderie and connection surrounding meaningful causes.
To manifest this culture internally, they champion work-life balance and encourage innovation and creativity. “We have incredibly low turnover because we support our staff’s personal lives. This allows our partners to have experienced staff members planning their events.” Colleen shares. A team member recently posted on her social media, “While corporate America spends time judging women, I’m proud to work at a company who doesn’t care how old I am, how many kids I have or might have in the future, supports that I have other dreams and passions, and their main concern is whether I’m a good person and if I’m planning great events.”
The duo also complements each other skillfully to turn ambitious ideas into reality. Erica oversees conceptualizing big-picture event frameworks as the strategist and creative conductor with 25 years of producing events. Meanwhile, numbers-whiz Colleen lends analytical mastery to navigate logistics and manage budgets.
In the past year alone, they produced over 50 creative new fundraising events that harnessed emerging technologies to elevate participant experience.
They constantly push boundaries, from custom apps that foster peer-to-peer connections to interactive exhibits that bring causes to life. Colleen explains, “We bounce ideas off each other all the time about how to make events more hands-on and strengthen that community feel.”
It’s that spark of innovative spirit blended with strategic follow-through that sees their brightest ideas transformed into tangible, awe-inspiring event elements year after year. By combining creativity with a data-driven approach, they develop fresh ways to educate and inspire audiences about the causes they support.
Despite their years of experience, c still chase ever-greater horizons expanding what “fundraising event” means. They have their sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, driven by the dream of bringing OP 3 Events’ impact to an even bigger stage.
At their core, though, Erica and Colleen are motivated by creating spaces that empower participants to embrace their ability to make a difference. Behind the smooth execution lies deliberate intention—the drive to convene communal spaces for empowerment, understanding, and human transformation. And that’s the secret sauce making OP 3 Events a truly special place.
Published By: Aize Perez
