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After a two-year hiatus, the Power of the Purse fundraiser was held on Thursday, May 5th at the Mercantile by Bello’s in Marshall. This exciting event brought together many women from throughout southwest Minnesota to enjoy a girls’ night out and support our local children. All money raised will be invested in United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) initiatives that help prepare young children for kindergarten and to succeed once they’re in school.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library book program was featured during the evening. In addition to beautiful table decorations by Blissful Creations, LLC, the tables were adorned with a variety of Imagination Library books. Also, the emcees for the night shared some of their families’ experiences receiving the books.
The Imagination Library book program is available to children (age birth – 5 years of age) who live in our service area. Every child who is enrolled receives an age and developmentally appropriate book in the mail each month. Children gain valuable school readiness skills each time an adult in their life takes time to read books to them. Since we began sponsoring the program in 2005, 7,886 local children have graduated from the program, and 476,429 books have been delivered to homes throughout our service area. In June of this year, 2,308 local children will receive a book mailed to their home because of UWSWMN’s sponsorship of this program.
Other UWSWMN internal initiatives that will benefit from this fundraiser are: Stuff the Bus school supply distribution, Fun in the Sun kits distributed by local libraries, and Student Emergency Fund grants to schools. For more information on these programs, go to
UnitedWaySWMN.org/community-initiatives.
The evening was filled with food, fun, and philanthropy. There were stylish purses, a diverse silent auction, deluxe packages, interactive Plinko activities, and the grand finale prize vault. Several guests also donated gently used purses that will be distributed to WoMen’s Rural Advocacy Program (WRAP) to assist victims of domestic assault.
On behalf of United Way of Southwest Minnesota, thank you to all our lovely guests, the generous businesses and individuals who made donations, the staff at Bello Cucina, our wonderful event committee, Whitney J Photography for photographing the event, Blissful Creations LLC for the lovely decorations, and Push Play Entertainment for the fun photo booth.
For more information about your local United Way, please visit UnitedWaySWMN.org.
United Way of Southwest Minnesota an autonomous, local organization working to create lasting changes in people’s lives and the communities we serve in Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine and portions of Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle, Nobles and Redwood counties of Minnesota.