Evening for Kids' Sake brings out BBBS supporters

Editor's note: The writer is a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Minnesota.

OWATONNA - It's hard to overstate the importance of the annual Evening for Kids' Sake gala to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Minnesota.

"I like to call it our Super Bowl," said Michelle Redman, executive director of the organization.

On Saturday, the organization welcomed scores of volunteers and well-wishers to the annual event at the Steele County History Center. Evening for Kids' Sake is the largest fundraiser of the year for the local Big Brothers Big Sisters, with Saturday's goal pegged at $110,000, but it's also a critical chance to highlight the organization's mission and recognize some of its outstanding volunteers.

"We have our Bigs of the Year and get to hear directly from them what they're doing in the lives of our children," Redman said.

This year's honored Bigs were Kim Ramsey, Bill Speck and Elizabeth and Jeff Malo, who spoke over a formal dinner catered by Torey's Restaurant. But before that came, there were live and silent auctions with items donated by individual and corporate supporters around the region. In addition to these fundraisers, Redman said, the organization made a special push through its Fund in Need appeal for mentoring the children of prisoners.

"About 32 percent of our children have a parent who's incarcerated or involved with the law," Redman said. "Without any intervention, 70 percent are likely to be involved with the law themselves. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a preventative measure to combat that recidivism."

And it's an aspect of Big Brothers Big Sisters' work that even many supporters might not be aware of, she said.

"The need is great, so we're using this platform to inform the community about the need for this program," Redman said.

The event was packed with men in suits and women in evening dresses, all out to support what BBBS does for the community. Some, like Larry and Kate Schroeder, are involved with the program in other ways as well. Larry Schroeder said he spent years as a Big through the school-site match program, and in July, the couple was matched with a 10-year-old Little of their own.

"It's a great event," said Larry Schroeder, who attended the gala for the first time in 2016. "I helped out yesterday setting up and didn't realize how much work something like this is. The staff do a heck of a job putting it all together."

He said he was happy to support Big Brothers Big Sisters, and had his eyes on several auction items as well.

"I just hope I can buy something. I always get outbid," he said.

As of Monday afternoon, Redman said the total raised was sitting at $105,215, but she noted some funding sources such as employers that match employee donations are still coming in.

"Those should all be trickling in in the next month, and we're hopeful to hit the $110,000 goal," she said.