The 7th Annual Home Plate Gala
Last Saturday night I had the honor of volunteering my photography services for The 7th Annual Home Plate Gala. The proceeds benefitting Crescent Cove Resite & Hospice Home for Kids in Brooklyn Center, MN. This very special event was held once again at the Marriott Minneapolis Northwest in Brooklyn Park, MN.
The home of the Crescent Cove Respite & Hospice Home for Kids in Brooklyn Center, MN.
The 7th Annual Home Plate Gala was beautifully emceed by Minnesota Twins play-by-play announcer Dick Bremer. Also in attendance were Rod and Rhonda Carew, Tony and Gordette Oliva, Anita Oliva, Nita Killebrew, Jennifer Morris, Paul Molitor, Clyde Doepner, and Joe Mauer.
Rod Carew shared some stories about his friend Harmon Killebrew. Twins play-by-play announcer Dick Bremer looks on.
Sue Nelson, Minnesota Twins & Target Field organist, played the piano all evening as well. Sue and I visited for a few minutes early in the evening, she is so sweet!
There were also nine very special families of some very special All-Star kids on hand for the event. They are all part of the Crescent Cove family. As of mid-2018, Crescent Cove is now open full time for families in need. Since there is no cost for any family to be at Crescent Cove, so this fundraiser is a very important event!
The Demand Is Great
Crescent Cove Resite & Hospice Home for Kids is just the 3rd home of it’s kind for kids in the United States. Unfortunately, there is a huge demand for this, and so Crescent Cove was created to help these families.
The Home Plate Gala, now in its 7th year, celebrates all the love, innovation, and teamwork that goes into helping these families who have children with shortened life expectancy. This was an evening filled with touching stories, laughter, and of course some tears.
Harmon Killebrew
Our connection with this wonderful event stems from our friendship with the late Harmon Killebrew and his wife Nita. I am so honored to continue volunteering for one of Harmon’s causes, The Harmon Killebrew Hospice Home for Kids Fund.
From left to right: Tony and Gordette Oliva, Nita Killebrew, Paul Molitor, Anita Oliva, Jo Schifsky, Katie Lindenfelser, Theresa Edlund, Rod and Rhonda Carew, Jennifer Morris, and Clyde Doepner.
The Harmon Killebrew Hospice Home for Kids Fund is an endowment fund to help families to use this facility at no cost to them. Harmon would indeed be very proud.
Below, there’s a little highlight video I put together that sums up this wonderful evening of The 7th Annual Home Plate Gala. They were hoping to raise more than $350,000, and I hope that they exceed that amount. All funds will go towards operating this home at no charge to its guests.
As you can imagine, to operate something like this 24/7 – 365 is not an easy task. Please consider donating to this great cause if you can. Here’s a link to do so online. Thank you! – M&J