Pacer Partners
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PACER PARTNERS Connecting families, friends, 2018 SPRING donors, and staff of PACER PACER.org Benefit History Volunteer Profile PACER Partner PACER Project PACER Advocate 4 6 7 8 10 Jennifer Hudson to headline Annual Benefit Presented by Starkey Hearing Technologies When Jennifer Hudson stole the show in the film version of Dreamgirls, critics proclaimed, “A star is born!” That star will shine brightly for PACER audiences on May 12, when Hudson headlines the 36th Annual PACER Benefit presented by Starkey Hearing Technologies at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Academy and Grammy Award-winning performer, who starred as a coach on last season’s “The Voice,” is renowned for her powerful voice and stage presence. Hudson has performed at the Super Bowl and the White House; she’s starred in films, on television, and on Broadway. Most recently, she was hand-picked by the legendary Aretha Franklin to play her in the upcoming biographical movie. “Jennifer Hudson is amazing,” said PACER Executive Director Paula Goldberg. “She has won just about every award there is, and she has such a wonderful, powerful voice. Every day we hear how excited people are to see her perform at PACER’s Benefit! This is going to be a magical night for PACER supporters.” PACER’s Annual Benefit supports our programs for children with disabilities and their families, as well as PACER’s National Bullying TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Prevention Center. The evening includes the spectacular live and silent (952) 838-9000 | PACER.ORG auctions, followed by the performance. Tickets start at $75 and can be purchased at PACER.org/benefit or by calling PACER at (952) 838-9000. 1 2018 PACER BENEFIT: LIVE AUCTION VIP tickets to see ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ and tour Warner Bros. Studio PACER’s Live Auction You’ll receive four exclusive tickets to a live taping of the show during Ellen’s “12 Days of Giveaways,” when every Many exciting prizes! guest receives fabulous gifts; last year they were valued at nearly $3,000 per person! You’ll enjoy an exclusive VIP Tesla experience and California getaway tour of Warner Bros. Studio and watch actors on the set of a popular television show. Round-trip airfare You and your guest will enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour provided by Travel One and two nights of luxury hotel of Tesla’s headquarters and factory in Palo Alto to learn accommodations at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly about the innovative technology behind the world’s most Hills included. premium electronic vehicles. You will be provided your very own Tesla for four days; travel to Napa Valley for a Chef’s Table at Bellecour and Spoon & Stable two-night stay at a beautiful resort, then head south for James Beard Award winner Chef Gavin Kaysen invites you an additional two nights at an amazing resort in Big Sur, to experience the highly acclaimed Bellecour, his French where you’ll take in breathtaking coastline views. bistro in Wayzata. Gavin and his team will entertain your Celebrity experience at Los Angeles event group of six guests at the famous chef’s table, where you can watch the preparation of your fantastic dinner. This You and your guest will enjoy the exclusive opportunity foodie’s dream package will also include an experience to attend a special VIP dinner event in Los Angeles for six at the chef’s counter at Kaysen’s Spoon & Stable supporting PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. Center. Have your picture taken with a celebrity guest, and meet movie producers Chris Moore (Good Will Exclusive tour of Jay Leno’s Garage Hunting and Academy Award nominee Manchester by You and a guest will have the exclusive opportunity to the Sea) and Jenno Topping (Academy Award nominee tour Jay Leno’s Big Dog Garage to see one of America’s Hidden Figures). You will also meet other well-known greatest collections of cars and motorcycles, from classic PACER supporters, such as Jimmy Pitaro, President of cars to super cars and everything in between. ESPN. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime evening! Culinary experience with Andrew Zimmern Thank you to Benefit volunteers! Enjoy an exclusive culinary experience with Andrew PACER would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all Zimmern, creator and host of the award-winning those who give so much time and energy to make the Travel Channel series, “Bizarre Foods.” The acclaimed Benefit a success. multiple James Beard Award-winning chef and television Special thanks to the volunteer leaders: personality will prepare a spectacular dinner for eight Benefit Committee co-chairs Liz Brown, Jessica Broyles, guests at his kitchen studio in Minneapolis. All guests Mary Holmes, Anna Hyland, Colleen McGough Wood, will receive autographed books and special surprises and David and Nancy Kaysen. during your evening of food and fun! Corporate Sponsor Committee co-chairs Don Limited-edition Opus One wine Davidson, Hal Lieberman, and Jim Oricchio. If you are a wine connoisseur, you know about this ultra- Silent Auction Committee co-chairs Lee Heilicher, premium wine created by Baron Phillipe de Rothschild Gail Kenton, Carrie Kilberg, Don McNeil, Theresa Read, and Robert Mondavi, and you will delight in owning 18 Raleigh Segal, and Amy Weiss. bottles of this polished and age-worthy wine. Opus One PACER also thanks the Benefit Committee members, is produced with uncompromising attention to detail, generous sponsors, dedicated volunteers, and loyal from the way the vineyard is planted and maintained to attendees who are all Champions for Children. the quality of the cork that seals the bottle. 2 2018 PACER BENEFIT: SILENT AUCTION The Silent Auction at PACER’s Annual Benefit is believed to be the largest in Minnesota! Each year, PACER supporters are invited to bid on incredible items — Silent Auction offers from unique electronics to beautiful jewelry and sports memorabilia. unforgettable experiences The auction also includes some one-of-a- kind experiences. Here are just a few of the amazing packages you can win at the 2018 Annual Benefit: VIP tickets to ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Your unforgettable experience starts when you and your guest enjoy refreshments in the greenroom before the show, and then are seated in the VIP section of the audience of the award-winning “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” at Disney’s El Capitan Theater, located on Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. Behind-the-scenes tour of Instagram and Facebook A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you and your family or friends to tour Instagram and Facebook. You will experience a virtual One of the amazing Silent Auction items is a trip to Puerto Vallarta! reality demonstration and see Facebook’s new office, designed by renowned architect streaming. Tesla vehicles are the premium electric sedans Frank Gehry, that features a large room covered by a and SUVs, offering the quickest acceleration and the nine-acre rooftop park. longest range of more than 200 miles. Puerto Vallarta holiday getaway Chef-prepared dinner at Paula Goldberg’s home Enjoy two weeks at Starwood’s Buganvilias Club Eight guests will enjoy a spectacular dinner prepared Resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in a spectacular by a gourmet chef at the Minneapolis home of PACER two-bedroom Imperial Suite! This beautiful resort is Executive Director Paula Goldberg. This is a unique located on the Las Glorias beach near downtown Puerto opportunity. Vallarta. Take a stroll on the Malecon to relish the town’s VIP tickets to ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ typical Mexican architecture. You and your guest will enjoy two VIP tickets to a taping Tesla experience of “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” hosted by the Emmy Drive a Tesla Model S85 or similar for a full week! Award-winning writer and former “Saturday Night Live” Vehicle seats up to five passengers and includes music cast member, at NBC Studios in New York City. Bid on these items during the Silent Auction at PACER’s Benefit on May 12! 3 PACER BENEFIT HISTORY From homemade brownies to Jennifer Hudson: The evolution of PACER’s Annual Benefit The small item on page 6 of the May 1983 edition of the Pacesetter newsletter carried a simple headline: “Audience favorable to benefit.” The article told the story of PACER’s first benefit at the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis. The evening included a performance of Hand in Hand, a play by Leslye Orr, who is blind, that was based on the lives and writings of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. “For the first benefit, we had 75 people and we charged $25 a ticket,” said Paula Goldberg, PACER’s Executive Director. “The board and staff made brownies and cookies. We made $2,000 and we were delighted.” PACER’s benefit has come a long way! Today, the benefit features high-profile entertainers, a live auction with incredible, one-of-a- kind travel and culinary experiences, large silent auction, a raffle, and an amazing fine jewelry Extravaganza. The event draws more than 2,500 people. This year’s benefit will be one of the best yet, with the legendary Jennifer Hudson entertaining the audience. The history of the benefit is fascinating and one fact has remained PACER’s 1987 Benefit Program, featuring the constant: All proceeds support PACER and its innovative programs comedy troupe Second City for children with disabilities and those who are bullied. Early benefits featured theatre performances. Twin Cities musician Peter Himmelman was the first entertainer to perform in 1990. As the audiences swelled, the event outgrew theatre spaces. When the Minneapolis Convention Center opened, PACER’s 1991 Benefit, featuring Joan Rivers, was the first nonprofit event held there.