Get ready for an unforgettable evening of celebration, generosity, and impact at the Children’s Law Center of Minnesota’s 31st Anniversary Celebration of Champions Benefit & Awards on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the historic Hollywood Theater in Northeast Minneapolis. This year’s Lights, Camera, Impact! Every Child Deserves a Starring Role celebration will feature an exciting live auction filled with special experiences and one-of-a-kind packages, with every winning bid helping support CLC’s free legal advocacy for children and youth in foster care.
Take a sneak peek at this year’s featured live auction items below, start planning your bidding strategy, and share your favorites with friends who may want to join in the fun!
Have Something to Contribute?
We are still welcoming donated items and experiences for this year’s Benefit.
To donate a live auction item, contact Billy Soden, Development Director, at bsoden@clcmn.org.
To donate a silent auction item, contact Ellen Hillebrand, Office Manager, at ehillebrand@clcmn.org, or use our [item donation form].
Join Us in Person!
Come walk the red carpet and be part of a memorable evening celebrating the people who champion children and youth in foster care.
Purchase Tickets to the 2026 Celebration of Champions
Can’t Attend?
You can still make a meaningful impact. A direct gift in honor of the 2026 Celebration of Champions Benefit & Awards helps ensure that children and youth in foster care have a strong voice and a dedicated advocate by their side.
Looking for the Silent Auction?
Our online silent auction will have its own page, where you can preview items and bid from anywhere.
Wonderful Wayzata! In-Town Getaway
No airport required for this getaway! Escape to beautiful Wayzata, where Lake Minnetonka views, boutique accommodations, and some of the area’s best dining make for a perfect Twin Cities staycation.
Begin with $650 at The Hotel Landing, a stylish boutique hotel just steps from the lake, complete with an on-site restaurant and wellness spa. Then eat your way through Wayzata with gift cards to 6Smith, The Grocer’s Table, and PURALIMA Cantina.
Make it a romantic overnight, a weekend with friends, or simply an excuse to spend some time enjoying one of the most charming communities on Lake Minnetonka.
Package Highlights
- $650 to The Hotel Landing — a boutique hotel with an on-site restaurant and wellness spa
- $200 to 6Smith — an artisan-inspired meat and seafood restaurant overlooking Lake Minnetonka
- $100 to The Grocer’s Table — a neighborhood market, café, and wine and cocktail bar
- $50 to PURALIMA Cantina — fresh, fast-casual Mexican fare
Total Package Value: $1,000
Donated by: Linda Luksen
An Unforgettable Dinner at Home for 10
Skip the reservation and let the restaurant come to you!
Gather nine of your favorite people for an unforgettable custom dinner for 10 from Houndstooth Modern Tavern, prepared and served right in your home within the Twin Cities metro area. Your evening will feature a specially planned meal accompanied by thoughtfully selected beverage pairings.
Celebrate a birthday or anniversary, bring together a group of friends, or turn an ordinary evening into a private dining experience everyone will remember. The best part? No fighting for a reservation, no crowded dining room, and no one in your group has to cook.
Package Highlights
- Custom dinner for 10 people
- Dinner prepared and served in the winning bidder’s home
- Beverage pairings included
- Available within the Twin Cities metro area
- A private dining experience designed for you and your guests
Donated by: Houndstooth Modern Tavern
Big Sky Adventure: A Montana Mountain Getaway
Big skies. Mountain air. An unforgettable escape.
Head west to Big Sky, Montana, for up to a 5-day, 4-night stay in a 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath home for up to six guests. Enjoy mountain scenery, outdoor adventure, and time to unwind in beautiful Big Sky Country. A $350 cleaning fee applies; no pets are allowed. Blackout dates are 12/26–1/3, 2/10–2/15, 3/7–3/21, 3/28–4/11, and 6/27–7/5. Winner must make contact by 10/15 to receive the listing link; stay is subject to availability, and preferred dates may fill quickly.
Depending on the season, spend your days hiking, sightseeing, enjoying the mountain village, exploring the surrounding area, or simply relaxing in one of the most spectacular settings in the West.
Whether you’re looking for adventure, tranquility, or a little of both, this Montana getaway is your chance to experience why they call it Big Sky Country.
Package Highlights
- Getaway accommodations in Big Sky, Montana
- Easy access to the area’s mountain recreation, dining, and sightseeing
- A perfect home base for exploring southwest Montana
- Additional stay and booking details will be provided to the winning bidder
Gems of Mexico: Winner’s Choice Getaway
Seven nights. Three incredible destinations. One unforgettable Mexican escape.
Trade Minnesota for palm trees, warm ocean breezes, and resort living with a seven-night stay at The Mayan Palace. The winning bidder can choose from Riviera Maya, Nuevo Vallarta, or Puerto Peñasco, each offering its own beautiful setting for a relaxing getaway.
Settle into a Studio Master Room and spend your days lounging by expansive pools, exploring the resort grounds, dining on-site, or simply finding your favorite spot by the water. Depending on the destination, you’ll be surrounded by tropical gardens, beaches, golf, dining, and plenty of opportunities to make the trip as active—or as wonderfully unhurried—as you like.
Whether you picture yourself waking up near the Caribbean, relaxing along Mexico’s Pacific coast, or escaping to the shores of the Sea of Cortez, this winner’s-choice getaway gives you the chance to pick the setting that feels just right.
Package Highlights
- 7-night stay at The Mayan Palace
- Winner chooses Riviera Maya, Nuevo Vallarta, or Puerto Peñasco, Mexico
- Studio Master Room with 1 bedroom/studio area and 1 bathroom
- Accommodates up to 4 guests: 2 adults and 2 children under age 12
- Booking assistance provided by Raise Away
- Reservation must be confirmed within 12 months of purchase
- Travel may take place within 18 months of purchase
Important Details: Primary traveler must be age 25 or older. Thanksgiving week, Christmas week, and New Year’s week are blacked out; all other dates are subject to availability. Resort fees are payable upon redemption, and hotel taxes are due at checkout. Additional restrictions apply.
Nikki’s State Fair Blue Ribbon Sticky Buns
Here is your chance to enjoy a true blue-ribbon treat! Children’s Law Center of Minnesota Executive Director Nikki Farago earned a first-place blue ribbon at the 2026 Minnesota State Fair for her homemade pecan sticky buns—and now the winning bidder gets to enjoy them for themselves.
This special live auction package includes two separate deliveries over the following year, each featuring two dozen freshly made pecan sticky buns. Deliveries can be made to a home or workplace within the Twin Cities metro area.
That’s four dozen award-winning sticky buns in all—perfect for a family gathering, office celebration, holiday brunch, or simply sharing with some very lucky friends.
A one-of-a-kind treat you simply can’t buy anywhere else!
Estimated Value: $200
Donated by Nikki Farago, CLC Executive Director
Cardigan Donuts Experience
Here’s one for the donut dreamers.
Cardigan Donuts is giving one lucky bidder the chance to take their love of donuts beyond the pastry case with a special experience from one of downtown Minneapolis’ favorite destinations for handcrafted treats.
Known for creative flavors and an inventive approach to the classic donut, Cardigan has made this live-auction favorite as fun as it is delicious. Last year’s winning experience included the opportunity to collaborate with Cardigan’s bakery team to dream up a custom donut—and Cardigan is returning to support CLC again in 2026.
Get ready to think outside the donut box.
Package Highlights
Details of the 2026 Cardigan Donuts Experience are currently being finalized and will be announced soon.
Package Value: $300
Donated by: Cardigan Donuts
Oceanfront Luxury Escape in Daytona Beach Shores
Sunshine, sand, and the Atlantic Ocean are calling.
Escape to Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, for a relaxing oceanfront getaway along one of Florida’s most famous stretches of coastline. Wake up near the water, spend your days enjoying the beach, and settle into vacation mode with warm ocean breezes and miles of shoreline right outside your door.
Daytona Beach Shores offers the best of a laid-back beach escape while keeping you close to the dining, entertainment, and attractions of the greater Daytona Beach area. Take a long walk along the Atlantic, explore the coast, or claim your spot by the water and make absolutely no plans at all.
For anyone ready to trade Minnesota weather for Florida sunshine, this one deserves a spot at the top of the bidding list.
Package Highlights
- Oceanfront getaway in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida
- Beautiful Atlantic Coast setting
- Convenient access to beaches, restaurants, and Daytona-area attractions
- Final stay dates, accommodations, and booking details will be provided prior to the auction
Donated by: Bruce and Pat McRae
Raise Your Paddle and Make a Difference!
Found your favorite? Come ready to bid!
Every winning bid at the 2026 Celebration of Champions Benefit & Awards directly supports the Children’s Law Center of Minnesota and our work providing free legal representation to children and youth in foster care. Your generosity helps ensure that young people have an advocate by their side, their rights protected, and their voices heard.
Learn About the 2026 Celebration of Champions Benefit & Awards
Looking for the Silent Auction?
You don’t have to wait until the live auction to start supporting CLC. Preview this year’s online offerings and bid from anywhere through our 2026 Silent Auction.
Thank You to Our Generous Donors
Our live auction would not be possible without the businesses and individuals who generously contribute these extraordinary experiences. We are grateful for their partnership and their commitment to supporting Minnesota children and youth in foster care.
Thank You to Our Generous Donors
