Hope Gala
22nd Annual Hope Gala | A Night of Glamour and Impact
Wow—what an incredible night! On Saturday, March 29, 2025, nearly 270 guests stepped into a world of old Hollywood glamour at our 22nd Annual Hope Gala, and we are still feeling the magic. Thanks to your incredible generosity, the evening was a tremendous success. Together, we raised over $96,000 through Fund-A-Need and exceeded our overall goal by raising more than $214,000! Another record-breaking year made possible because of you!
The Hope Gala is the pinnacle of our annual fundraising efforts, critical to sustaining our mission to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Each dollar raised during the evening serves as a lifeline, ensuring that those who need our services most find the support, safety, and hope they deserve.
Throughout the night, guests enjoyed an unforgettable evening under shimmering lights: sipping exquisite cocktails, savoring delicious hors d'oeuvres, and bidding enthusiastically on exciting live and silent auction packages — all while championing a cause that transforms lives.
As Executive Director, Connie Moore reminded us during the event:
"Because of you, survivors won’t have to choose between their safety and their future. Your gift means an advocate will stand beside them in court, that a survivor won’t feel alone in a hospital room, that someone will pick up the phone when they call for help."
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making this night — and our ongoing work — possible. Together, we are creating a community where survivors are believed, supported, and empowered.
Photos
Relive the moment by visiting our photo album on Facebook!
Congratulations to Our Raffle Winner!
We’re excited to announce the winner of the Create Your Dream Vacation Raffle!
Before the close of the Hope Gala program, we drew the winning ticket — and ticket #0191 was the lucky number!
Congratulations to Heidi F., who has won a $5,000 Travel Voucher courtesy of Elk River Travel! We can’t wait to hear all about the dream vacation you create.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the raffle and supported Alexandra House — your generosity helps change lives.
Save the Date: 23rd Annual Hope Gala!
Mark your calendars! The 23rd Annual Hope Gala will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026 — and you won't want to miss it!
Stay tuned for updates as we reveal next year’s exciting new theme. (We can’t wait to share it with you!)
Want to help make the magic happen? We’re inviting passionate volunteers to join the Hope Gala Planning Committee, which will reconvene in August/September 2025. If you’re interested in bringing your creativity and energy to this unforgettable event, reach out to Amanda Fulk, Mission Advancement Officer, for more information.
Get ready — the countdown to another incredible evening of hope and celebration starts now!
Hope Gala 2026
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Time: 5:30 – 9 p.m.
Location: To Be Announced
We’re inviting passionate volunteers to join the Hope Gala Planning Committee, which will reconvene in August/September 2025. If you’re interested in bringing your creativity and energy to this unforgettable event, contact Amanda Fulk, Mission Advancement Officer, at 763-762-5318 or Tina Bronson, Director of Mission Advancement, at 763-656-1363.
Can a donor use a donor-advised fund to cover event cost?
The lowest ticket price (tax-deductible and non-tax-deductible) must be paid from a donor’s personal bank account. The remaining sponsorship costs may be paid by a grant from a donor-advised fund as long as the donor does not receive more than an incidental benefit in return. Logo or name recognition in event materials is not considered more than an incidental benefit.
Here is an example of what can be paid from a donor-advised fund for an event:
- A $5,000 event sponsorship includes a table for 10 with the donor’s name or logo in event materials.
- If the lowest ticket price to attend the event is $100, then the donor must pay $1,000 for the table from the donor’s personal bank account ($100 × 10 seats at the table), and a grant from a donor-advised fund can cover the remaining $4,000.
NOTE: If a donor chooses not to accept any benefits associated with a sponsorship, the entire amount may be paid by a grant from a donor-advised fund.
Donor-advised fund grants may support fund-a-need calls for outright donations at charitable events. However, grants from donor-advised funds cannot pay raffle tickets, games, or auction items because the donor cannot receive any personal benefits.
A grant from a donor-advised fund may fulfill a commitment to a 501(c)(3) public charity. However, Treasury and the IRS prohibit using the term “pledge” on grant checks or related correspondence. Instead, the donor should reference a “donation” or “gift.”
Donor-advised fund grants are prohibited from conferring any benefits “more than incidental” to the donor, donor advisor, or anyone related to them. The IRS has issued guidance indicating its opinion that donor-advised fund grants that enable attendance or participation in a charity-sponsored event are considered to provide a more than incidental benefit, even if the donor/advisor pays for the non-deductible portion of the ticket out of pocket—which would result in the assessment of a penalty excise tax on any donor/advisor who recommended the grant or who received the benefit. The same logic and penalty apply to membership fees that have deductible and non-deductible portions.
2025 Hope Gala Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor:
Fridley Lions Club
Diamond Sponsor:
Connexus Energy
Platinum Sponsor
Allina Health
Gold Sponsors:
Carlson Toyota
Carlson Toyota
Carpenter, Evert & Associates
Courtyards of Andover
Deluxe
Evans Transportation
Everson Family
Unique Dining Experience
Walters Recycling & Refuse
Silver Sponsors:
Case Family
Classic Construction
Mandy Meisner
Print Sponsor:
Allegra | Blaine
Games Sponsor
Air Mechanical
Desser/Wine/Beer/Table Sponsors:
Hey LuLu Bakes
Magnifi Financial
Northeast Bank
Friends of the Gala:
21st Century Bank
Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
Federal Premium
Rotary Club of Blaine and Ham Lake
Paula and Steve Wells