The YWCA of Minneapolis Circle of Women fundraiser luncheon is an inspirational opportunity to support life-changing programs in the community, empowering women and girls in profound ways.

In 2008 we will be sharing the stories and results of our Girls & Youth programs that impact over 1,400 urban girls and boys annually. These programs are active in the community throughout the year, bringing out the best in girls and boys from low-income households in Minneapolis by promoting academic success, positive decision-making, leadership skills, and community involvement.

Purses & Passion celebrates the power of women to create our own legacy through our philanthropic support and vision. As Susan B. Anthony stated, "Woman must have a purse of her own." Through our passion we create the future we want to see.

Annually, the YWCA of Minneapolis touches over 25,000 community members in small and extraordinary ways through:

• Early Childhood Education
• Girls and Youth
• Health & Fitness
• Women's Wellness
• Public Policy
• Racial Justice
• Women's Wellness

Circle of Women is the YWCA's largest fundraising event. In 2007, over 1,100 women and men witnessed our programs' impact on the lives of children and adults in our urban community. We are proud to report that 85% of the funds raised through the 2007 event went to directly support our programs.

The Event

There is something powerful about coming together to listen to those whose voices aren't always heard - the participants of the life changing programs of the YWCA of Minneapolis. During the Circle of Women program, individuals whose lives have been profoundly impacted share their stories with attendees.

Voices at Circle of Women 2007

Kong Meng Yang, Girls & Youth participant:

"The YWCA Asian Youth program has brought many opportunities to me and my family, my older brother has become a mentor of the program and I've become a certified lifeguard at the YWCA. My other siblings have gained so much from the program, and it has made my family much closer that ever. The YWCA has become my family, my body, and my future."

» Read more of Kong's story

Alicia, Healthy Journey participant:

"My husband and I were introduced to the importance of physical fitness by a friend about six years ago after our third child was born. After a year our financial situation changed and we were unable to keep paying for our membership so we stopped going to the gym…. During that time, I started to see the impact of not feeding my family healthy meals or having any physical activity. Our health wasn't looking very good and we were becoming more and more overweight."

"That was when a friend of ours told us about a program called Healthy Journey through the YWCA. Our experience at the YWCA has been great. Now my children are happier, healthier and losing weight. My husband now runs and has greatly improved in his weight training. I am also benefiting from this physical fitness stuff, I have lost 88 lbs so far. All this has happened with the awesome opportunity offered through the YWCA, and the great staff at Healthy Journey. Thank you very much!"

» Read more of Alicia's story

Cassandra, Children's Center parent:

"My name is Cassandra and I have two daughters, Monet is eight and T'ea is three. We have been a part of the downtown YWCA Early Childhood Education family for 8 years. I remember walking into the YWCA where we were greeted with a smiling face and the atmosphere was calm and bright. The child care provider took my daughter from me and started to play with her, immediately calling Monet, "her baby." I remember walking out of the room saying 'This is it!'"

"As Monet grew older she had all the great opportunities of going to one of those "college tuition" childcare centers. She went to McPhail for music lessons and visited Orchestra Hall on a regular basis. Each week she swam, went to the Computer Lab and during the summer visited the Farmers Market . I am proud to say that my daughter with the help of the YWCA is in 2nd grade reading at 4th grade level. She is so computer literate that she teaches me things and computers are my profession."

» Read more of Cassandra's story

» Event Details
» Payment
» Sponsorship

2008 Corporate Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

Sustaining Sponsors

Select Sponsors

Corporate Table Sponsors

Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s Piper       Breast Center in partnership      with Consulting Radiologists Ameriprise Financial Brookfield Properties C.H. Robinson Capital Growth Partners Cargill Delta Dental of Minnesota Fredrikson & Byron General Mills Gray Plant Mooty Great Clips HGA Architects & Engineers HealthPartners Hunt Adkins Janel M. Goff, The Goff Group Leonard, Street and Deinard      Professional Association Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King &      Stageberg, P.A. Lund Food Holdings, Inc. Luther Automotive Group Messerli & Kramer P.A. Michaud Cooley Erickson Minnesota Lynx Minnesota Mechanical Contractors       Association Northwest Airlines Target The KNW Group, LLC Thomson West