The 1920’s surely roared in St Paul.
A century ago, St Paul’s Capitol city was a place where locals sipped forbidden hooch and notorious gangsters cooled their heels.
The glamour of the era will be recreated on the evening of Saturday, October 11 when the Children’s Hospital Association stages The Golden Key Gala. The association’s premiere fundraising event will be staged at the Wabasha Caves. Located across the river from downtown St Paul, the caves were once home to a Prohibition era speakeasy and also were used by mobsters as their hideout.
“We are super excited about it,” said Jaymi Danz, a member of the Children's Hospital Association Board of Directors. “We picked the Wabasha Caves because it is a place for a exciting, fun and unique date night. Guests can even get a tour of the caves where a murder may—or may not—have happened.”
The Golden Key Gala will include live jazz music for dancing, a Prohibition-inspired menu for dining and vintage cocktails and mocktails. Guests are encouraged to dress in 1920’s style; media personality Sheletta Brundidge is sure to be decked out in her finest flapper garb as the master of ceremonies for the event.
“All of the money from the gala goes to CHA, which is a funding and resource development nonprofit organization that is volunteer led,” explained Sarah Driever, executive director of Children's Hospital Association. “We support and steward specific programs and grants at Children’s Minnesota.”
Driever herself is well aware of the comprehensive and compassionate care offered to local families whose children receive medical care at Children’s Hospitals. Her own babies have needed care for complex medical needs and her family has benefited from programs developed with funding from CHA.
“I have twins who were born at 26 weeks at the beginning of Covid in 2020; they were two pounds each,” she said. “It’s been a roller coaster. They have needed a lot of treatment and specialty care— physical, occupational, speech and vision therapy, we are doing it all. I am so thankful every day that we
have Children’s Minnesota to coordinate that care. We are making it work.”
More than 250 volunteers work year round to raise money for Children’s Hospital Association. Another one of their annual fundraisers is the giant Rummage Sale staged by the North Oaks Guild, to be held at the Shoreview Ice Arena on Sept 13 - 14. For details about the sale go here.
Tickets to The Golden Key Gala can be purchased here. Donations can also be made there or via text by texting "chipin4children" to phone number 855-800-4975.