April 14
Music Matters Luncheon
Benefit for MacPhail Center for Music. The seventh annual fundraising event is free and filled with inspirational music and stories of students whose lives have been transformed by MacPhail. It showcases all of MacPhail’s core programs. www.macphail.org
April 17
St. Cloud Start! Heart Walk
Join more than 30,000 walkers and survivors as they gather in St. Cloud to inspire healthy changes in others, create hope for a world without heart disease and celebrate the successes in medical research. Form a team and help raise over $2 million for research. www.heart.org/start
April 17
Ever After Gowns Boutique Event
Ever After Gowns is a volunteer-run, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing prom gowns and accessories to high school students in need. Ever After Gowns invites students (pre-selected by their high school guidance counselor) to attend the Ever After Gowns Boutique Event where she selects a free gown and accessories to attend her high school prom. www.everaftergowns.org
April 17
Thank God for Kids Gala
A benefit for the various programs of the Cancer Kids Fund at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. The 19th annual Thank God for Kids Gala includes silent and live auctions, dinner, raffle, and live entertainment. Contact Barbie at 651-855-2836.
April 24
Twin Cities Start! Heart Walk
Join more than 30,000 walkers and survivors as they gather at Harriet Island in St. Paul to inspire healthy changes in others, create hope for a world without heart disease, and celebrate the successes in medical research. Sign up with a company team or form a team with family and friends. www.twincitiesheartwalk.org
April 24
Beastly Ball at the Minnesota Zoo
A benefit for the Minnesota Zoo. The 22nd annual black-tie gala is the zoo’s largest fundraising event of the year and offers silent and live auctions, dinner, dancing, and more! For more information, contact Bridgette at bridgette.rufledt@mnzoo.org
April 24
Remembering Our Stars Gala
A benefit for The Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota. Proceeds from the evening will benefit those with dementia, as well as their families and caregivers, through education, support and advocacy services. The gala will include a reception, silent and live auctions, dinner, program, and entertainment. $200/ticket. Black tie admired, but not required. Minneapolis Marriott City Center. Contact Stephanie at stephanie.dix@alz.org.
April 24
VocalEssence Gala: A Mexican Serenade
An evening of delectable food, a Mexican marketplace, music by VocalEssence singers and marimba players, a live auction and an opportunity to learn about the VocalEssence education programs in an atmosphere of a Mexican celebration! Proceeds benefit VocalEssence community engagement programs. www.vocalessence.org
April 24
Big Climb for Cures
Give yourself an excuse to take the elevator the rest of the year! Join The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for the inaugural Big Climb for Cures in Minnesota. Big Climb for Cures is a stair climb up one of downtown Minneapolis’ most beautiful properties, Fifth Street Towers. Participants climb to help raise funds to find cures for cancer. Climbers will enjoy a one-tower (34 floors) or two-tower (57 total floors) climb, a complimentary recovery area, free T-shirt, an awards ceremony following the climb, and more! Visit bigclimbforcures.org/mn to register today.
April 25
March for Babies
A benefit for The March of Dimes, Minneapolis and St. Paul. The March of Dimes organization champions the needs of moms and babies in local communities across the nation. The money raised through March for Babies will support lifesaving research, community services, education and advocacy that help babies get a healthy start in life. www.marchforbabies.org
April 29
Dining Out for Life
Invite your friends and family to dine out at one of over 155 participating restaurants – for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Aliveness Project, a community center for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Visit diningoutforlife.com for a complete list of restaurants. Dine Out. Do Good.
April TBD
COMPAS Art of Cuisine
A benefit for COMPAS, leading students, schools, and communities in discovering the art within each of us. This annual culinary and arts event will be held at the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul. Guests will sample local fine food and drink, enjoy professional visual and performing artists, and experience culinary art demonstrations. www.compas.org
April TBD
Fraser Walk for Autism
Join the fun by forming a team and walking to raise funds for autism services at Fraser. All the money raised goes to support local families affected by autism. The walk includes children’s games and prizes, live music and dance performances, therapy animals, mascots and local celebrities. www.fraser.org/calendar
April TBD
Junior Achievement bigBOWL
A benefit for Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest. JA bigBOWL is an annual Bowl-a-Thon, raising money for K-12 business and economics education programs in more than 650 area schools. This one-day bowl-a-thon will help raise dollars to support JAUM’s missions of reaching more than 120,000 students in the Upper Midwest. www.jaum.org
April TBD
Kids in the City: A Celebration of All-Stars
A benefit for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. The Kids in the City Event showcases the Fox Sports North Youth All-Star Program and celebrates the achievements of Boys & Girls Club members throughout the Twin Cities. The sixth annual event will begin at 5 p.m. with a pregame of interactive games and activities, silent auction, celebrity autographs, and photos. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. featuring live entertainment by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities Performing Arts Troupe. Contact Nicole at nkersting@boysandgirls.org or 612-435-1916
April TBD
Social Butterfly
A benefit for Care Partners, a Children’s Cancer Research Fund quality-of-life program for pediatric cancer patients and their families. Care Partners, a volunteer-driven program, has served nearly 2,600 families since its establishment in 1983 and currently has 125 volunteers. The seventh annual Social Butterfly is a chic cocktail party featuring hors d’oeuvres, a DJ, dancing, raffles and a VIP party. https://www.ccrfsocialbutterfly.org
April TBD
Spring Membership Soiree
A benefit for The Parkinson Community. Dinner, wine, entertainment, and a medical update. $25/household (includes the evening’s activities and an annual Parkinson Association of Minnesota membership). www.parkinsonmn.org
April or May TBD
The Wish Ball
A benefit for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota. This annual black-tie gala includes auctions, gourmet food, entertainment, and dancing. Estimated 900 guests. For more information, please visit
www.wishmn.org or call 612-767-9474.
