Ordinary Magic 2024
An Annual Community Celebration and Fundraiser in Support of Wilder's Mission
Celebrate and build community with Wilder!
Join us for Ordinary Magic on Thursday, May 2, 2024, for a magical evening in support of Wilder and the people and families that we serve. The evening features a reception with activities and an auction, plus light dinner and an inspiring program hosted right at Wilder Center.
Let’s celebrate the power of Ordinary Magic to transform lives. The event helps raise critical funds to fuel Wilder’s mission to improve lives today and for generations to come by combining knowledge, compassion and action.
Now available: Preview items in the silent auction! Bidding starts April 25
Ordinary Magic is sold out!
We are overwhelmed by the incredible response to Ordinary Magic 2024! We're thrilled to announce that the event is sold out. Thank you for your enthusiastic support of Wilder and our mission.
Although seats are full, there are still plenty of ways you can be part of the magic!
Volunteer
Help make Ordinary Magic a success by volunteering at the event. Volunteers help celebrate and build community with Wilder. Shift options vary from 2-5 hours, and opportunities include silent auction, bid spotting, checkout and more.
Make a Fund-a-Need Gift
Support Wilder's programs and services by making a gift in advance of the event. Donate today, and your gift will be doubled by a dollar-for-dollar match at Ordinary Magic.
Participate in Our Silent Auction
Preview starts April 18th and bidding opens on April 25th. Visit the Ordinary Magic page to join the fun!
Gifts to Wilder help provide
- Powerful mental health and wellness services
- Stabilizing housing support and assistance
- Transformative cash investment in people
- Essential space for diverse community leaders
- Research and evaluation reports that inform the common good
Our Speakers
John Harrington
Chief Harrington is a current Wilder Board Member and the CEO of Micro Grants & LightsOn! He has held many public leadership roles and has served as the Commissioner for the Department of Public Safety for MN, Chief of the Metro Transit Police, a member of the MN Senate, and Chief of Police for the City of St. Paul.
Sheriff Dawanna Witt
Sheriff Witt is the first woman and person of color elected as Hennepin County Sheriff. Throughout her career she has focused on reaching out to young people and communities that have historically had poor relationships with the police. Sheriff Witt also serves seasonally as a Minnesota State Fair Police Officer and on advisory panels including the State of Minnesota Legislative Task Force on Child Protection and the State of Minnesota Task Force on Law Enforcement Education Reform.
Armando Camacho
Armando Camacho is the president and CEO of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. He leads the organization’s work to improve lives today and for generations to come through services, research and community building. He is the seventh president in the foundation’s history.
Derrick Yang
Derrick is a Peer Support Specialist with Wilder’s Mental Health & Recovery Services. He is a certified mental health and substance use disorder peer support specialist and is bilingual in Hmong and English. Derrick works with adults presenting with mental illness, addiction, and homelessness and shares his own experience of managing co-occurring disorders with others to encourage growth and knowledge and inspire hope.
Xee Xiong
Xee Xiong is a proud mother of four children and lives in Saint Paul. Xee moved to Saint Paul from Laos over 30 years ago. She is a member of the Hmong Group at Wilder’s Center for Social Healing and has been building community and meaningful relationships with others at Wilder for more than ten years. These relationships have inspired her and helped strengthen her and her family.
U. Kevin Harris
Kevin is the Director of Lending at Mni Sota Fund and has worked in consumer lending for more than two decades. Kevin has a passion for helping people of color first time home buyers accomplish their financial goals. Volunteering and serving his community is very important to him. Currently he's President of the Downtown Minneapolis Next Generation Lions Club and Service Officer for the Brooklyn Center American Legion.
Laverne Cross
Laverne is a lifelong Saint Paul resident and proud mother of a teenage son. Her journey with Wilder has led to greater housing stability for her family, and her work ethic and determination motivates her to advocate for better affordable housing for more families around the city.
Wilder gave us so much - they gave John mental stimulation and activities with dignity and compassion. They helped me process my grief, learn about caregiving and showed me that sorrow and hope can and do co-exist.
Thank you to our generous sponsors for making Wilder's annual celebration and fundraiser possible this year!
Presenting Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Special Thanks to
The McKinney family chose the Child Development Center for its diversity and focus on kindergarten readiness in a supportive environment
When Lawrence and Charmaine McKinney started looking for child care for their oldest child, they wanted to find something near their neighborhood. They also wanted an opportunity to interact with a racially and ethnically diverse group o...More about this story »