Rick Kupchella and Boogie Wonderland Help Set the Stage for Signature Fundraiser

After helping more than 22,000 people and providing nearly $5 million in emergency financial assistance to local adults with cancer and their families since 2001, Minneapolis-based Angel Foundation supporters have reason to celebrate. They plan to do just that Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 at the 13th annual Angel Gala at the Hilton Minneapolis.

More than 750 guests are expected to attend the celebration, which in 2014 raised more than $500,000 for local adults with cancer and their families. Emcee will be Rick Kupchella, founder and CEO of BringMetheNews and former anchor/investigative reporter at KARE.

“It’s a wonderful evening to celebrate the impact Angel Foundation is having in our community,” says Mark Wilkening, Angel Foundation president. “It’s not only our biggest fundraiser of the year, but a night of tremendous hope and inspiration. The gala sets the stage for what we can do for adults with cancer and their families in 2015.”

The night highlights Angel Foundation participants and celebrates them, all while raising the resources to help them. The event begins at 6 p.m. and includes a program, silent and live auction, dinner and after-party dancing to Boogie Wonderland. Also on hand, interacting with the guests and adding to the fun, will be Alexis Thompson of MyTalk FM 107 morning show and Emily Engberg of Twin Cities Live.

Funds raised at the event support Angel Foundation’s programs. To that end, the gala will include stories of participants who have been helped by Angel Foundation’s two programs: its Facing Cancer Together program (which provides education and support to families with children facing a parental cancer diagnosis) and the Emergency Financial Assistance program (which provides immediate funds to adults in active treatment for cancer in the seven-county Twin Cities area for non-medical basic needs such as groceries, gas, utilities and rent or mortgage payments).

Angel Foundation Origins
In 1964, a 16-year old Edina star athlete and student named Jim Deming died of leukemia. He left behind a grieving family, a best friend named Mark, and a special girlfriend named Margie. While Jim lay dying, Mark promised him that he would work in the field of cancer, and that he would always take care of Margie.

In college, Mark Sborov and Margie married, and following graduation, Mark started medical school. His specialty: oncology. Before long, Margie knew that she wanted to be involved in the field of cancer as well. She created a role as a patient advocate for cancer patients and was able to see first-hand many of the issues that cancer patients face and the heartbreaking decisions many have to make:

“Do I buy my medication or do I pay my rent?" “Should I cut my medication in half and hope it works so that I can afford groceries to feed my family?”

Margie felt compelled to start a non-profit organization that would meet these needs for adult cancer patients and their families.

In 2001, with funds from the physicians in Mark’s oncology practice (now named Minnesota Oncology), Angel Foundation was born. Margie continues to be involved as founder of Angel Foundation, and Mark is an advisor.

Angel Gala Tickets
Tickets to the Angel Gala are $195 per person. Early bird pricing of $175 is available until Dec. 15. Tribute tables of 10 are available for $3,000. To order tickets, go to www.mnangel.org.

For more information about the Angel Gala or Angel Foundation, go to www.mnangel.org or or call (612) 627-9000.