Boys & Girls Club Gala raises over $264,000 for kids in the Bemidji Area
BEMIDJI – Our annual gala was on February 20, with over 200 people attending to support the Club’s mission! The evening was full of fun, generosity, and meaningful stories about the Club’s impact on youth. Because of supporters like YOU, including generous sponsorships, donations of wonderful auction items, and investments in the success of Club kids, the Club raised over $264,000 – about 10% of our annual budget. WOW!
These funds support year-round programs across all three of our locations. The gala is our biggest fundraising event of the year, and it wouldn’t be possible without generosity from incredible people like you. Thank you!
Several Club youth were featured at the event and spoke about the amazing impact the Club has had on their lives and what it means to them. These included our Youth of the Year participant Olivia Glander. The event also included a celebration of this year’s Sue Engel Spirit of the Mission award recipient, Lou Ann Knorr, in gratitude for her many years of service to Club kids.
Mark your calendars now for next year’s gala on February 26, 2027 with an all new theme The Greatest Show!
Boys & Girls Club Gala raises over $205,827 for kids in the Bemidji Area
BEMIDJI – The Boys & Girls Club of the Bemidji Area hosted its 19th annual Gala on Friday, Feb. 14, at the SouthShore Hotel on Lake Bemidji, raising an astounding $205,827.
The theme was “An Enchanted Evening Empowering Youth,” and over 200 community members attended the event. The money raised supports the Club’s year-round programming for over 400 kids at the organization’s sites in Bemidji and Blackduck.
“It was an incredible evening, our guests absolutely showed their love for our Club kids,” said Andrea Kent, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Bemidji Area. “They truly believe in making a difference to children and teens right here in our community.”
During the event, Karl Mork, the Club’s vice president of business operations, was honored with the Sue Engel Spirit of the Mission Award for his dedication to the Club. Mork has been with the Boys & Girls Club of the Bemidji Area since it was founded in 2003.
The event was emceed by Kevin Jackson, of Paul Bunyan Broadcasting, and the live auction was conducted by Tammy Tisland. The Club’s 2025 Youth of the Year, Olivia Glander, was the featured speaker.
In the past two years, the Club has grown to include three sites: the Clubhouse in Bemidji, a school-based site at J.W. Smith Elementary, and a new Blackduck Branch that opened in September 2024.
“We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love for our kids and mission. Thank you to everyone who sponsored the event, attended and donated,” Kent said, “Your support gives kids the resources they need to reach their full potentials.”
Photo credit @lainiehillerphotography