Register now for our 25th anniversary StepUP gala:
Saturday, May 13, 2023
Radisson Blu, Mall of America
2100 Killebrew Drive
Bloomington, MN 55438
5:00 p.m. Registration, silent auction and social hour 6:00 p.m. Dinner, program, live auction and fund-a-need
8:30 p.m. After party featuring Sam Ryden ’24
Semi-formal attire. Complimentary valet parking provided or free self-parking available in Mall of America parking ramps.
Registration is now closed, and the gala is sold out with no available seats remaining. Please contact Martha Truax at 651-261-9646 or truaxm@augsburg.edu with any registration questions.
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
Sponsorships reflect gifts and pledges made between June 1, 2022-May 31, 2023.
Presenting Sponsor ($50,000+)
The Doran Family
Bobby and Liz Poteete and family
Signature Sponsors ($25,000-$49,999)
Carlson Family Foundation
Gage Family Foundation
Scott and Gina Gage Family
Cindy and Tad Piper
Jill and Robert Thomas
Gold Sponsors ($10,000-$14,999)
The Denzer Family
Susan Engeleiter
The Gunter Family
Kevin and Polly Hart
John and Ruth Huss
Bronze Sponsors ($5,000-$7,499)
Karim El-Hibri ’08
The Retreat
Anonymous
Table Sponsors ($2,500-$4,999)
A Grateful Alumni Family
A Grateful Alum
Anonymous
CARE Counseling
Coalition of Recovery Investment
Mae and Toby Dayton
The Foster Family
H.B. Fuller/Max and Jessica Marcy
The Lion House
Bush and Sarah Nielsen
Xan Oser ’09
P.E.A.S.E. Community Foundation
Jon and Julz Schwingler
Douglas and Kris Sill
Rick and Kris Sterling
Nancy Truax
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Handcrafted nonalcoholic beverages by Coalesce
Coalesce is a small, women-owned business staffed by two young women, Chelsey Noack and MJ Johnson, who are both bartenders in recovery and now have their own craft beverage company making delicious non-alcoholic drinks which they will be serving all evening.
“25 in 25” Outstanding Alumni Awards
In recognition of the StepUP Program’s 25th anniversary, we are honoring 25 alumni who have been leaders in their communities, their careers, and in the cause of recovery. Profiles and photos of these alumni will be displayed in the “25 in 25” gallery in the reception area and in the printed program. Alumni will be called to the stage to receive an award during the program.
Student music: Dylan Adams ’24 and Sam Ryden ‘24
StepUP students will be performing music during the social hour, the dinner program and the after party. Dylan is a self-trained classical pianist who will be performing original compositions, and Sam is a singer-songwriter who will be singing his own compositions as well as crowd favorites to kick off the after party.
Live auction
This year’s live auction features four signature items:
Dinner for 10 cooked by Andrew Zimmern
Box seats for 4 and private flight to the Vikings at Packers game
Villa del Palmar Mexican getaway
Lake Minnetonka boat cruise featuring Coalesce beverages
Musician Jeff Dayton
Minneapolis-raised, Nashville-based artist Jeff Dayton spent 15 years as bandleader and guitarist with Hall of Fame legend Glen Campbell, has toured with Lee Greenwood and megastar Kenny Chesney, and played shows on guitar with Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Tanya Tucker, Toby Keith, Buck Owens and Bo Diddley.
Student Speaker Cassidy Disrud ‘23
Cassidy, a Psychology major and Studio Art minor from Saint Francis, MN, will share her story of her journey to StepUP, life as a college student in recovery, and how her life has been changed as a result of the program.
Use the button on the following heading to expand content on '25 in 25' Outstanding Alumni Awards
Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations for the “25 in 25” Outstanding Alumni Awards, which will take place at the Gala.
To celebrate 25 years of the StepUP program, we are honoring 25 outstanding alumni of StepUP who have made a meaningful difference in their community and represent what it means to live in recovery. Congratulations to these award recipients!
Dr. Victor Acosta ‘04
Chris Allen ‘02
Dr. Heidi Bausch-Ryan ‘07
Chad Berryman ‘19
Matt Bolin ‘11
Clarke Browne ‘01
Dr. Dave Bergstrand ‘14
Karim El-Hibri ‘08
Maura Freshour ‘19
Billy Giles ’15
Darius Gray ‘16
Blake Halvorson ‘17
Debbie (Jacobs) Heard ‘00
Peter Hubbard ‘10
Sue Karber ‘02
Evan Lieberman ‘10
Max Marcy ‘03
Sara Mueller ‘17
Xan Oser ’09
Tucker Robinson ‘22
Chris Scribner ‘08
Sam Spafford ‘09
Leah Streitman ‘06
Dr. Anne Thompson Heller ‘08
Samantha Yerks ‘07
Please follow StepUP on Instagram and Facebook for more information on the award recipients.
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Hotel Information:
Hotel rooms are available at the Radisson Blu; unfortunately, the deadline to reserve within the StepUP room block was April 19. You can still book rooms at the Radisson Blu online or by calling 1-800-333-3333.
Includes additional table for a total of two (2) Premier tables for ten (10) guests each *
Includes all benefits listed above as well as:
Option to have Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow seated at your table
Brief speaking opportunity for one of your executive officers to welcome guests
* The cost of goods and services is $100 per event guest. You will receive a receipt for tax purposes.
Questions? Contact Martha Truax at 651-261-9646 or truaxm@augsburg.edu.
Use the button on the following heading to expand content on COVID-19 Policies
Currently, we do not plan to require guests to show proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test, or wear a mask at the event. We encourage any guests who are not feeling well or displaying active COVID-19 symptoms to stay at home. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 levels in the Twin Cities and follow best practices set by the Minnesota Department of Health.
