The focus of Access Press’ annual Charlie Smith Awards Banquet is to honor a Minnesota individual or group for outstanding service to the state’s disability community. The banquet also serves as a fundraiser for Access Press, Minnesota’s disability community newspaper.
Reservations can now be made for the Nov. 1 banquet, which starts at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner and ceremony at 7 p.m. Cost is $45 per person for those who register early, $50 per person at the door or $325 for an eight-person table. The table rate represents a savings of $35. Registration can be made online, at www.testing.accesspress.org. Look for the Charlie Awards tab at the top left corner of the home page.
Checks with the name and number of guests can be mailed to Access Press, Attn: Dawn, 161 St. Anthony Ave Ste 910, St. Paul, MN 55103. Please make checks payable to Access Press and note banquet in the notation line. Credit card transactions can be made over the phone by calling the office at 651-644-2133.
Many opportunities are available to help support this important event. One option is to be a table host. Purchasing a table offers the option of having a company, organization or individual’s name displayed on the table and at the banquet.
Another is to be a banquet sponsor. Sponsorships range in cost from $200 to $400 and have different levels of recognition. Look online for details.
A third way to support Access Press is by donating to the silent auction and raffle. New merchandise and gift baskets, gift certificates, theater and sports tickets, medical supply, store gift certificates, sports memorabilia and one-of-a-kind items have been popular, with lively competition for everything from accessible cabin stays to portable ramps to ice cream.
One focus this year is our community’s talents. Are you an artist, a crafter or a photographer? Do people rave about your baking? Or do you have a crew of family and friends who would donate an afternoon of yard work? Those kinds of unique donations would also be welcomed. Please contact Access Press Business Manager Dawn Frederick at 651-644- 2133 or dawn@testing.accesspress.org if you would like to donate or if you have questions about donations.
