This year marks the 10th year of progressive dinners hosted by The United Way of Central Minnesota (UWCM), with this year’s event being offered April 6 and 13. All proceeds from the dinners benefit the Imagination Library program.
The Imagination Library program was created through a partnership between UWCM and the Dollywood Foundation. Through the program, children from birth until their fifth birthday that live in the UWCM service area can receive a new, age-appropriate book mailed to their home each month.
The program is offered to families at no cost; it’s funded locally by individual donations from parents, community members, corporate gifts and special grants. Last year 8,000 local children received books.
“What better way to promote literacy to the kiddo’s in your life than by reading free books received monthly from birth to five years old,” said Lori Johnson, volunteer on the United Way’s Progressive Dinner committee. “Not all United Ways offer Dolly Parton’s awesome literacy program, Imagination Library, and the Progressive Dinner fundraiser helps make this program happen in Central Minnesota.”
The Progressive Dinner is a fundraiser for the Imagination Library. Each weekend offers unique themed dinners in an intimate setting. Participants travel to different homes in the area to dine with others who have selected the same cuisine.
The event begins at a reception home where guests enjoy appetizers, beverages and socializing. From there they proceed to their first course home where they are served soup and salad, and next to their main course home for the entrée. Guests finish the evening by returning to the reception home for dessert and beverages.
Cuisines are prepared by local volunteer and gourmet chefs, and are hosted at various homes in the community. Each cuisine accommodates 10 to 12 guests. This year’s 23 unique cuisine experiences can be found at unitedwayhelps.org/progressivedinner/.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Progressive Dinner, unique, one-of-a-kind chairs will be auctioned off at each of the reception homes. Chairs can be viewed at North Benton Dental Care, Paramount Center for the Arts and Schneider Orthodontics.
Progressive Dinner tickets are $125 per person, and include a four-course dinner, beverages and receptions. $90 per ticket is tax deductible. Registration begins at 8 a.m. on Feb. 8 at unitedwayhelps.org/progressivedinner/ or by phone at 320-223-7995. Interested parties are encouraged not to wait to purchase tickets, as they sell out quickly.
Families interested in enrolling their children in the Imagination Library program can visit unitedwayhelps.org/home/imagination-library/.
