By: Amber Biñas | The Charm City Edit

At Martin’s West, beneath crystal chandeliers and a wash of crimson light, Baltimore gathered for the Brigance Brigade Foundation’s Signature Winter Soirée with O.J.

Candlelit tables flickered beneath towering arrangements of red roses and the room carried the steady energy of a crowd that understood the significance of the evening.

Founded in 2008 by O.J. Brigance and his wife, Chanda, following O.J.’s ALS diagnosis, the Brigance Brigade Foundation was built from lived experience. What began as personal adversity became organized advocacy.

The impact is tangible and immediate. From mobility equipment to caregiver support initiatives, the organization fills critical gaps that traditional systems often leave behind. The Winter Soirée exists to sustain that work. The funds raised last night do not disappear into abstraction. They translate into real relief for real families.

Baltimore showed up accordingly.

The evening was led by co-emcees Rick Ritter of WJZ and Keiarna Stewart of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Potomac, whose presence bridged local media and national television.

Public officials were also in attendance, underscoring the civic weight and cultural support behind the foundation’s mission. Business leaders, creatives, and longtime supporters filled the ballroom in collective support for one of their own.

And Baltimore dressed for it.

The men kept it sharp in tailored suiting, crisp lapels, and deliberate detail.

But the night also left room for individuality. Modern layering and subtle detail gave formalwear a fresh edge.

The women set the tone through silhouette. Cobalt satin caught chandelier light with every step.

And a red off-the-shoulder gown with cape detailing moved through marble corridors like it was made for this moment.

At the heart of the evening is Chanda Brigance, who commanded the room in a crystal-embellished black jumpsuit featuring intricate beading and sheer paneling.

Chanda’s presence is central to the evening. As co-founder, caregiver, and advocate, she has helped build an organization that continues to expand in reach and relevance. Through initiatives like Chanda’s Caregiver Corner and her children’s book collection inspired by her caregiving journey, her leadership extends far beyond a single night.

Hundreds of guests filled Martin’s West, marking one of the foundation’s largest gatherings in recent years. The turnout spoke to a network of ambassadors and community advocates who brought their circles with them.

I attended the soirée as a guest of Heidi Klotzman of HeidnSeek Entertainment and Mo Oveissi of Bmore Fashionable, two of Maryland’s most prominent connectors at the intersection of culture and philanthropy. Their tables gathered creatives, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders. A testament to how Baltimore builds its most influential rooms — through relationships.

The Signature Winter Soirée with O.J. remains one of Baltimore’s defining evenings, not solely because of its elegance, but because of what it represents.

This year’s record turnout made one thing clear. Baltimore will always rally to stand firmly behind one of its own.