Who:  Friends of St. David’s Center
What: Make Them Shine, 2010 St. David’s Center Gala
When: Saturday, March 6, 2010
Where:  Hotel Sofitel, Bloomington
Why:  A benefit to support the wide-ranging services that make the lives of west metro children and families better

The Hotel Sofitel sparkled in the spirit of bringing out the unique light within every child when 300 people came out for an auction and dinner for the 22nd annual St. David’s Center Gala. The gala’s promise to children—to Make Them Shine—was delivered when guests exceeded the center’s goal of raising $145,000.

St. David’s Center provides 2,500 children and families in the western Minneapolis metro area with early childhood education, pediatric therapies, mental health and family support services, and in-home and community special needs services. The center will celebrate its 50th anniversary at next year’s gala.

This year, the spotlight shined on gala co-chairs John Randle, a former Viking and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and his wife Candace, who generously shared their story on how the center has benefitted their children.

At the sponsor pre-gala reception, Party Patrol caught a photo op of Star Tribune sports icon Sid Hartman with Vikings coach Brad Childress, his wife Dru-Ann, and Candace and John Randle.  Sid, by the way, was a live auction item—a dinner for four with him went to former Minnesota Viking Chris Liwienski, and his wife Nicole, for $2,100. We’d be out of our league dining with those three knowing almost zilch about football, but how fun would that be?