Noche de Colores
A unique event to benefit children and families of Common Hope

International Market Square in Minneapolis was abuzz on May 1 for the fourth Noche de Colores benefit.

Former long-term volunteers Tom Sullivan (2003-2004) and Matt Dunbar (2002-2006) graciously served as our emcees. Their strong connection with the people of Guatemala made them the perfect pair to host the event. Shari Blindt, executive director, welcomed everyone and recounted the latest accomplishments that Common Hope supporters have made possible. Karla Heeter shared her life-changing relationship with student Walter Burgos, whom she sponsored with her husband, Ron Heeter. Attendees met Walter through a video that was filmed and produced by Buck Holzemer and Patti Petrich of Buck Holzemer Productions. The pair, along with Steve Shepard of Spotnik, also produced four moving video vignettes for our needs auction and took beautiful portraits of students that needed Sponsors, which were hung around the venue for guests to peruse. At least twenty-four students were sponsored that evening! Guatemalan guests Tamalyn Gutierrez and Jeff Barnes, and recent long-term volunteer Charlie Simmons, presented the auction items with heartfelt stories from their experiences.

McDonald Remodeling and an anonymous group matched $10,000 to the housing and university scholarship auctions respectively. With these donations, over $100,000 was raised for the education, health care, housing, and university scholarship programs. Ticket and Guatemalan market sales increased our total proceeds to over $170,000.

Visit the Noche Photo Gallery from 2009

View videos that were shown at Noche de Colores

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