May 1st marked one of the Eden Prairie Community Foundation’s greatest charity galas to date: the 45th annual EP Gives, where almost 200 guests wined, dined, and donated over $100,000 toward the foundation’s myriad philanthropic efforts.
“As our network expands, so too does our guest list,” said Greg Leeper, executive director. “That’s why so many newcomers joined our long-time supporters at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest, where they bid in live and silent auctions for prizes such as international travel packages, a weekend cabin getaway, gift cards to local businesses, and the ever-popular ‘ultimate beer package’ (almost 40 gallons all together).
“I’m grateful to Senator Steve Cwodzinski for his inspired emceeing, Board Chair Deepak Ganapathy for sharing his personal account of the importance of service to our community, and Lissa Weimelt for speaking so candidly to our guests about Maria’s Voice: the nonprofit dedicated to preventing domestic abuse which she cofounded in her daughter’s memory.
“Most of all, I’m grateful to everyone who came out in support of our mission. Their donations allow us to provide grants to nonprofits and agencies that serve Eden Prairie, scholarships to promising Eden Prairie High School students, and fiscal sponsorship for local community projects. Thank you for showing how generous our town can be!”
EPCommunityFoundation.org