CELEBRATION AND FUNDRAISING EVENT
Avivo is HERE. Kelly Matter, Avivo President & CEO
We believe this year’s theme -- Avivo is HERE – tells the story of 2020. Last year was disrupted by difficulty and change. It also sparked innovation and hope. Amidst a global pandemic, and anger and chaos surrounding the murder of George Floyd, Avivo was HERE. • • • •
We worked to end Homelessness. We provided Education and training. We supported Recovery and mental health. We helped people find Employment and career advancement.
Our unique combination of services helps individuals secure paths to better health, stability and advancement. In this hardest of times, last year: • nearly 4,000 people accessed treatment and mental health services. • 885 individuals found housing and support services to avert homelessness. • nearly 1,000 individuals and their families moved off welfare into work. • 1,377 people found employment or entered careers. Tonight, we celebrate four Avivo Champions – individuals and partners who have an unwavering commitment to our mission. They inspire us to aim high in helping people transform their lives. Our work remains essential and is more urgent than ever. Thank you for your support tonight. You are a champion to Avivo participants who are working so hard to live well and work well.
Program “Another Day in Paradise” Harley Wood, accompanied by George Maurer Welcome Kelly Matter, President & CEO Christopher Hermann, Emcee Avivo is HERE Kelly Matter Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan Awards Presentation Keynote Andrew Zimmern, TV personality, chef, and social justice advocate Awards Presentation Invitation to Give “Love’s Divine” Harley Wood, accompanied by George Maurer Special thank you to Theater Latté Da for its generous in-kind donation of space and for allowing us to safely use The Ritz Theater. And thank you to our event sponsors and table hosts for helping to make this event possible!
Share tonight’s event on social!
@AvivoMN
#AvivoChampions
KEYNOTE Andrew Zimmern
Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award winning TV personality, chef, writer, teacher and social justice advocate. In February 2020, Andrew returned to television with What’s Eating America, which premiered on MSNBC, and in 2021, he will premiere Family Dinner on Chip & Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network. Both shows were created by Intuitive Content, the full-service television and digital production company that Andrew heads as both founder and CEO. As the creator, executive producer and host of Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods franchise, Andrew Zimmern’s Driven by Food and Emmy-winning The Zimmern List, he has devoted his life to exploring and promoting cultural acceptance, tolerance and understanding through food. Andrew is also the founder and CEO of Passport Hospitality, a restaurant and food service development company. He is passionate about his philanthropic endeavors and sits on the board of directors of Services for the UnderServed, Project Explorer/EXPLR and Soigne Hospitality. He serves on City Harvest’s Food Council and is the International Rescue Committee’s Voice for Nutrition. Andrew is a founding member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, fighting to save restaurants affected by COVID-19. He resides in Minneapolis.
ENTERTAINMENT Harley Wood Vocalist Harley Wood is a local vocalist and songwriter with extensive experience in stage and studio production, engineering, choreography and overall group direction. He is a personal liaison to industry professionals and experienced with set and costume design. A band leader and performer, he works with an impressive collaborative list of established artists and entertainers. He is a selftaught musician on acoustic and electric guitar, bass, percussion and keyboard instrumentation. He is trained in theatre, voice and stage performance (solo and collaborative). He captured leads in many theater productions including Rent at the Minneapolis Lab Theater.
George Maurer Performer Pianist George Maurer is a composer and arranger who has shared the stage with Eric Clapton, Bruno Mars and Jason Mraz. He’s produced arrangements for renowned musicians like Buddy Holly’s Crickets and several symphonies nationwide. A recent national theatrical success was his tour as music director and orchestral arranger for the Midtown Men starring the four former original leads from Broadway’s Tony and Grammy award-winning “Jersey Boys” cast. In 2017, Maurer created new music set to verse by National Poetry Slam Champion Sierra Demulder for One Voice Mixed Chorus. He is a 2014 recipient of a McKnight Composers Fellowship.
COMMENTS Peggy Flanagan Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan is a mom, an advocate, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, and Minnesota’s 50th Lieutenant Governor. Her career is built on standing up for children, working families, communities of color and Indigenous communities, and Minnesotans who have historically been underserved and underrepresented. As a former State Representative, School Board Member, non-profit leader and community advocate, she now brings her experiences of building coalitions and advocating for children and families to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office as she works in partnership with Governor Walz to build One Minnesota.
Re·sponse: (noun) a reaction to a change or event. A·bil·i·ty: (noun) possession of the means to do something.
Konik PrimeStaff donates $200 per placement to our Response-Ability Charitable Fund! We’re proud to partner with Avivo and support their outstanding efforts!
Technical Recruiting Solutions Since 1974
2021 Avivo Champion Awards Avivo Champion - Partner
Red Lake Nation Avivo’s partnership with Red Lake Nation began in 2018 to address the needs of individuals living in one of Minneapolis’s largest homeless encampments, The Wall of Forgotten Natives. Since then, Red Lake Nation has helped Avivo to house nearly 300 individuals who were experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Red Lake Nation has used its influence as a tribal government, leveraged financial resources, and helped Avivo launch additional programs to end homelessness. We remain grateful Red Lake Nation’s trust and ongoing partnership!
Avivo Champion - Partner
Kelley Martin Multi-family housing owner Kelley Martin reached out to Avivo in May of 2020. She had heard that we had moved an entire encampment of 75 individuals into a hotel to provide housing services and safety from the Minneapolis riots in response to George Floyd’s murder. Kelley worked with Avivo to house 20 individuals from the hotel in apartments she owns and manages. She has a nonjudgmental approach and understands trauma and the culture of homelessness. She believes housing is a right and that all Avivo participants have potential. Since our partnership, she has housed 30 Avivo participants who were experiencing homelessness. She is a champion of Avivo’s mission to end homelessness.
Casey and Rhonda’s story “When I first met Avivo at the Tent City, they explained the program. They practically answered my prayers... I thought I’d just be homeless forever,” shared Rhonda. Casey and Rhonda were evacuated into Avivo’s new Hotel to Home program. With support from a housing case manager, they were connected to permanent housing in less than a week. Casey has been able to find occasional work and hopes to advance his skills to find permanent employment. Safe, supportive housing is helping them take their next steps.
Invested in a plan that yields happiness. Thrive with Purpose™
Find the perfect real estate agent in Minneapolis. homelight.com Learn more at thrivent.com.
PROUD BUILDING PARTNER OF THE AVIVO VILLAGES
BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE
2021 Avivo Champion Awards
Avivo Champion - Corporate
Thrivent Thrivent has been a partner and supporter of Avivo’s mission since 1988. Their investment in Avivo has enabled families who face the greatest barriers and inequities to maintain family-sustaining employment and financial health. Thrivent is currently supporting a Bridge to Self-Sufficiency model Avivo uses to help families focus on stability, well-being, financial management, training and employment to achieve economic mobility. Thrivent is helping to champion systems change to ensure all people are economically secure and mobile.
Avivo Champion - Individual/Family
Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation The Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation’s support has helped Avivo families transform their lives. Recently, their investment enabled Avivo to partner with Housing First Minnesota to renovate our family transitional recovery housing. This gift will give to families for years to come! The Foundation also provided COVID-19 relief support to cover dramatically increased costs due to the pandemic -- food for families, COVID-19 mitigation, technology for virtual supports, and more. Thank you for being a champion of the families Avivo serves!
Krystal’s story “It’s so important to be able to be in recovery with your children. Avivo was one of the only places I could do that.” Living in a trap house and drug environment with her two children, life was chaotic and Krystal knew she needed help. She was so grateful to be able to enter treatment with her children. She learned how to use tools for recovery. According to Krystal, having [recovery] housing was “like having hope”. “My kids see a whole new person, and I am a different, whole new mom!”
Ways to Give
Text “Avivo” to 50155
Give online @ bit.ly/AvivoDonate
What your gift can do! $5,000
Covers tuition for a student in Avivo’s Institute of Career & Technical Education to earn their certificate in areas such as IT or Medical Office Support.
$2,500
Provides one day of treatment services for five women and child development services for their children.
$1,000 Enables a street outreach worker to connect with
people living on the streets over the course of a week to get them on paths to permanent housing.
$500
Supplies a bed, mattress and dresser for an individual to transition out of homelessness into stable housing.
$100
Covers one month of public transportation for job hunting, food shopping or getting to Avivo for classes.
Thank you for giving and for believing everyone deserves the chance to live well and work well.
A special thank you to our virtual table hosts: Erik Aamoth and Tracy Sterk
Darcy Flinn
Tamra Anderson, VP-HR Parsons Electric
Kelly Matter
Emily Bastian
Brian Van Abel
Brian Pietsch and Christopher Hermann
Jill Butler
Bruce Wenger and Richard Frieson
Deloitte
Ron Zweber and Peter Scott
Avivo Board of Directors Charles Abrahamson, Vice Chair Healthcare Business Consultant
Joshua D. Krsnak Hempel Companies
Carlton Ammons HealthPartners
LaVelle Neal Star Tribune
Jason Beumer U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management
Kathy Schoenrock Graco, Inc. Mark Skubic Tapestry Hill Consulting
Jill Butler, Chair PricewaterhouseCoopers
Christopher Toppin, Treasurer Deloitte
Dr. Nicole Cooper UnitedHealthcare
Chad Underwood Fourteen Foods
Emily Hebert Target Corporation
Brian Van Abel Xcel Energy
Dan Jaeger, Vice Chair St. Patrick Catholic Church Thomas Keul, MD, Secretary Hennepin County Medical Center
Ron Zweber Bremer Bank, retired
Avivo thanks Theater Latté Da for its generous in-kind donation of space and for allowing us to safely use The Ritz Theater for our Avivo Night of Champions event.
David’s story “Avivo works with people with disabilities. I just wanted to get back to where I’d be able to work.” A maintenance worker at the time, David’s life took an unexpected turn when he experienced sight loss and serious heart problems. He enrolled in a career education training program at Avivo, and staff provided visual and audio support to help him finish classes. He was able to return to work in building maintenance. He is pretty active in his new job, and he feels much healthier as a result.
Mark your calendar for our upcoming event!
Fundraising Event Thursday, October 7, 2021
A one-hour event for corporate leaders, business partners and community members committed to helping individuals overcome barriers to stability and employment. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Bruce at bruce.wenger@avivomn.org or 612-752-8031.
Avivo is HERE. WE WORK TO END HOMELESSNESS. WE PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING. WE SUPPORT RECOVERY AND MENTAL HEALTH. WE PREPARE PEOPLE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND SUCCESS. Avivo’s mission is to increase well-being through recovery and career advancement while working to end homelessness.
Avivo 1900 Chicago Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55404
Follow us on social! @avivomn avivomn.org