26th Celebration of Champions Virtual Benefit – October 7, 2021

OCTOBER 7, 2021 – Virtual Celebration of Champions CLC Benefit

Please join us for a interactive program that highlights the positive impact of legal advocacy and free legal representation for youth in foster care. The 26th Anniversary Celebration of Champions program will be the final step in our event campaign to raise $200,000 for Children’s Law Center of Minnesota!

The event will include silent auction items, a Fund-a-Need, and features a keynote speaker, and recognizes awardees who have spent decades improving children’s lives.  *This year we are offering table sponsorships at $250 for at home watch parties! Table sponsorships include swag, wine dropped off at the location of your choice.*

Click here for our 2021 Sponsorship Packages Virtual 2021, and In-Kind Donations opportunities. Please email our Development Director, Amanda Finman-Palmer, with any questions or if you would like to sponsor the 26th Anniversary Children’s Law Center of Minnesota event or donate silent auction items.

Registration is free and Angel Tickets are $150. Register today! 

“Children’s Law Center has helped thousands of children and advocated for societal change for these youth. We have a particular responsibility to use our expertise to advocate for children.” – Thad Johnson, Former CLC Board member

Giving is easy! CLC also welcomes checks mailed to 450 Syndicate St. N. #315 Saint Paul, MN 55104

2021 Celebration of Champions Sponsors

Champions, $15,000+

Justice, $10,000 +

Humanitarian $7,500+

Advocate, $5,500+

Benefactor $2,500+

Guardian, $1,200

Gustafson Gluek PLLP

Nichols Kaster PLLP

Nilan Johnson Lewis

RJM Construction

U.S. Bank

Friend, $500

Dady & Gardner P.A.

Table Sponsorships:

Henson & Efron, P.A.

2020 full virtual program.

Congratulations awardees!

A CLC Celebration of Champions would not be complete without recognizing individuals and groups who have spent decades improving children’s lives.

• Carmeann Foster, Rebound Minneapolis founder and executive director was awarded the 2020 Hero for Children!
• Staff Attorney at Children’s Justice Initiative, Judy Nord, was recognized with the 2020 Rosalie E. Wahl Justice Award!
• 3M was awarded the well deserved 2020 Distinguished Service Award!

Thank you to our incredible community who made this event possible!

• Over 200 Virtual Attendees
• 36 generous Sponsors
• In-kind donors
• CLC Board
• Staff & Volunteers

All of CLC’s top sponsors, 3M, Jones Day, UnitedHealth Group, Robins Kaplan LLP, Taft Stettinius & Hollister and Fredrikson & Byron P.A. generously contributed segments to share why they volunteer for CLC kids and philanthropically support this necessary and effective organization.

Donate today!

Questions? Please contact, Amanda Finman-Palmer, CLC Development Director at 612-760-9698 or amandafp@clcmn.org

We appreciate your continued support.

2020 Celebration of Champions Sponsors

Champions, $15,000+

Justice, $10,000 +

Humanitarian $7,500+

Advocate, $5,500+

Benefactor $2,500+

Guardian, $1,200

Bassford Remele, P.A.

 Gustafson Gluek PLLC

Padmanabhan & Dawson, PLLC 

Nilan Johnson Lewis

RJM Construction

U.S. Bank

Friend, $500

Bremer Bank

Amy Conway

Table Sponsorships*:

Kevin Armstrong

Joe Cassioppi

Fortz Legal

Jessica Hern

Mr. and Mrs. James and Nancy Proman

Schechter Dokken Kanter

*NEW THIS YEAR: $250 for two bottles of wine delivered to the location of your choice.

Click here to see the pictures from 2019 event, courtesy of Craig Mullenbech and Toni Johnson.  (If you would like any of these pictures in its original format, please email your request to info@clcmn.org.

Spring 2021 COVID Updates for Youth in Foster Care

Our clients face many barriers to housing and stability, and are most vulnerable to the impacts of the pandemic, unemployment and America’s reckoning with race. CLC is working closely with the courts to address the needs of our clients during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that services are not disrupted. 

18-21 Extended Foster Care Program Update: 

The U.S. Congress recently made adjustments to help foster youth in extended foster care during the pandemic. Specific changes include the following:

• During this pandemic, a state receiving federal funding for extended foster care programing may not terminate services to youth because of the youth’s age, lack of employment or failure to attend school from 4/1/20-9/30/21.
• States must allow youth to re-enter foster care if they aged out of foster care during the pandemic.

More information is found here. 

General Client Updates:

•  In recent conversations with new clients, many of them have said that they are excited to get to in person learning.   Some have already returned to school and others are returning soon. They say “online learning was fine but I missed being with my friends”.
• Although we are currently not doing in person client meetings, we have been able to resume getting client bags to our new clients. This provides a way for us to have some additional connection with our clients and with the pandemic having their own toiletries and other comfort items can be helpful.
• CLC is seeing cases reenter child protection now that schools are reopening.

Upcoming Metro Area CLE Trainings

Be an advocate for abused and neglected children. Train to be a CLC volunteer attorney. This half-day training earns attorneys 3.75 CLE credits and is the perfect fit for anyone’s busy schedule. This is a training for new and current volunteer attorneys, judges, county attorneys, public defenders, social workers and other child advocates. Click on Read More below to see the dates for upcoming CLE trainings.