Presented by Kolar Automotive
Join us at our Annual Children’s Charity Gala on September 30, 2026 at the DECC. This is our largest fundraiser of the year and includes a live and silent auction, social hour, dinner and presentation. It’s a night you never want to miss!
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
DECC, Lake Superior Ballroom | 350 Harbor Drive Duluth MN 5:30 | SOCIAL with hors d’oeuvres & silent auction
7:00 | DINNER followed by formal program, awards & live auction
SPONSORSHIPS & SILENT AUCTION ITEMS
If you are interested in sponsoring the gala or donating an auction item, please contact our event coordinator at gala@northernlightsfoundation.org
2026 Feature Family
Finn & Maren
Katie, Riley, Finn, and Maren Bretting are this year’s featured family. At just 24 weeks and 2 days, twins Finn and Maren arrived unexpectedly, each weighing only 1 lb., 11.5 oz. Their birth began an extraordinary journey through NICUs in Duluth and Minneapolis, with their family separated by more than 150 miles as both babies fought to survive.
They will be sharing more of their story as we come together as a community to support them at the gala. Until then, you can learn more about them here.
ShiningBrighter Presenting Partner
Bright Future Sponsors
Hope Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
ONLINE AUCTION WILL OPEN IN SEPTEMBER!
PUBLIC & THOSE NOT ATTENDING THE GALA : Link to register & bid will be LIVE one week prior to the Gala in October.
GALA ATTENDEES : Use the PERSONAL link sent to you and be sure NOT to share it with others as it’s just for you! If you are attending the gala and are already registered, alternatively you can visit the link that will be LIVE here one week prior to the Gala, and enter your phone or email you used to register and it’ll connect you to your own account.
Silent Auction Details:
The auction will close at 7:30pm CST on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Winning bidders will be notified via text immediately upon the close of the auction and prompted to pay through the auction site.
If items cannot be picked up at the venue the evening of the gala by the winner, we will ship to the address on file and charge the shipping fees to the credit card on file.
NOTE: Liquor cannot be mailed.
Shipping will be charged the market rates for FedEx, USPS, or UPS.
If you have questions about picking up or shipping your items, please contact Todd at 218-590-0299
If you have questions about bidding, please contact James at 651-214-2498
If leaving a text or voicemail, please leave your full name, the event you are attending, and the item(s) won.