KOM 15th Anniversary Gala

KOM’s 15^th Anniversary Gala is coming up November 16th, 2023!

This year, the KOM gala will be a joyful opportunity for past event attendees and new supporters to celebrate our achievements and look to the future as we fulfill our new mission: building on the strengths of refugee and immigrant communities and remove barriers to achieving economic, social, and cultural wellbeing.

Join us for a special evening of fundraising and community-building at Inwood Oaks Event Center in Oakdale, MN. We’re excited to welcome community leaders, elected officials, service partners, volunteers and donors for a social hour, dinner, live performances, a raffle drawing, and main program.

 

REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED. Thank you!

See you all on Thursday, November 16th! Keep reading below for what to expect at the event.

Can’t make it in-person? You can still support the work we do by purchasing raffle tickets! Enter for a chance to win an exciting prize. See more details below.

 

Sponsorship

As a valued community partner, we invite your organization to be a sponsor of this year’s event. Organizations may choose from four sponsorship levels, each with a number of benefits reaching our diverse audience of event attendees, clients, and social media followers. Take a look at pricing and benefits at each sponsorship level here.

Registration to Sponsor our KOM Gala is Closed. Thank you!

If you have any questions about your sponsorship, please contact Alexis Walstad at (651) 202-3120 or events@mnkaren.org.

 

Program

Join us as we celebrate our KOM’s new Mission Statement and program expansion, reflect on our past 15 years, and look ahead to the future! We are happy to have a number of performers and speakers join us for this celebration.

Introducing our special guest performers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing our guest speakers:

• Emily Velazco, a graduate of KOM’s Translating and Interpreting Program (TRIN), will reflect on her experience in the TRIN program.
• Mah Jabin Amiri, a former participant in the Refugee Employment Services program, will speak about her journey and experience.

 

Raffle

Raffle tickets are NOW AVAILABLE to purchase for KOM’S 15th Anniversary Gala!

The Karen Organization of Minnesota will conduct a charitable raffle at our Annual Gala on November 16, 2023, 5:30pm-9:00pm at Inwood Oaks Event Center, 484 Inwood Ave. N, Woodbury, MN 55128. The raffle will raise funds for our programs serving refugees and immigrants in Minnesota. Read our KOM House Rules for Raffle 2023 for more details.

• Tickets cost $20 each and are non-refundable.
• You can purchase tickets now until November 16th, 2023.
• Tickets must be purchased in-person. Individuals may purchase raffle tickets with cash or check from KOM staff or board members or by cash, check, or debit card at KOM’s office during regular business hours. No phone or online payments allowed.
• Raffle tickets are not valid for event entry. You do not need to be present to win.

 

Sneak peek of some of this year’s raffle prizes!

 

$250 Gift Certificate to R.F. Moeller Jewelry Minnesota Zoo Experience Ticket Package ($96 value)

 

2 Tickets to a Theater Mu Mainstage Production Coleman-Skydome 8 Person Camping Tent ($290 value)

 

Other prizes include:

Karen Dinner for 8 | 4 Tickets to One Stages Theatre Company Production | Karen Men’s Suit Jacket | Karen Women’s Clothing | Karen Hand-Woven Bag | 3 Karen Woven Placemats | 2 Tickets to a St. Paul Saints Game | Rice Cooker from Kwekabaw Grocery | 2 $100 Target Gift Cards | 4 Admission Passes to the MN Landscape Arboretum | Cookies and Bars from Rise Bakeries | $50 Gift Card to Café Latte | Gift Cards, Jacket, Ball Cap, and Knit Hat from City Auto Glass

 

Contribute to Our Raffle

Our raffle was wildly successful last year, selling over 300 tickets and raising over $6,000 for KOM.  If you have an item or items to contribute to this year’s raffle, download our raffle donation form and return it via mail or email to:

Attn: Alexis Walstad, Karen Organization of Minnesota, 2353 Rice St., Suite 240, Roseville, MN 55113
events@mnkaren.org

If you have any questions about the raffle or would like someone to pick up your donation from your business, please contact Alexis Walstad at (651) 202-3120 or events@mnkaren.org.

 

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Thank you for your ongoing support of KOM, the Karen community, and immigrants and refugees in Minnesota. We look forward to celebrating 15 years with you at the KOM gala in November!

A special thank you to our sponsors of this year’s Gala: 

 

 

SILVER SPONSOR – Bix Produce Company SILVER SPONSOR – Maplewood Toyota & Inver Grove Toyota         SILVER SPONSOR – Hmong American Partnership

 

BRONZE SPONSORS:

Bethesda Family Medicine Clinic

Como Park Senior High School

Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans

Ebenezer Karen Baptist Church

Emmanuel Karen Baptist Church

First Karen and Burmese Home Health

First Karen Baptist Church

Health Partners

Hope Community Academy

Japs-Olson Company

Karen Community of Minnesota

K’nyaw Baptist Church

Metropolitan State University

Minnesota Department of Education

Rise Baking Company

Shiloh Karen Baptist Church

SKD Auto Transport

Tim O’Brien

Trinity Karen Baptist Church