It’s the last call for tickets to the annual Access Press Charlie Smith Award Banquet, Friday, November 3 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 7800 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington. This is the second year the banquet has been held at a more spacious location, with ample parking and room for quests.

Social time and silent auction start at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy a cash bar while seeing friends and making bids. Lots of fun items have arrived for this year’s silent auction and “pick a prize” raffle. Banquet attendees never know what fun things they’ll find to bid on and this year is no different.

The sit-down dinner and awards ceremony is at 7 p.m. Meal options are New York steak, wild rice, and mascarpone stuffed chicken, or gnocchi as the vegetarian option.

Come and meet this year’s award winner, athlete, and motivational speaker Mark Braun. Hear his story of early life in an orphanage to sports and personal success. He is a very remarkable young man and Access Press is proud to have him as this year’s honoree.

The Charlie Smith Award is named in honor of the late Charlie Smith Jr., founding editor of Access Press. Smith and his family founded the newspaper to provide a forum for Minnesotans with disabilities. This annual awards ceremony has been held since 2003, offering an opportunity to bring many individuals and organizations together celebrate accomplishments within Minnesota’s disability community.

Banquet tickets are $50 per person or $350 for a table of eight. Come and thank our banquet sponsors, whose names appear in this month’s Directory of Organizations.

Access Press is still seeking donations for the silent auction and “pick a prize” raffle. Call Access Press Office Manager, Dawn with questions about the banquet, tickets and the silent auction and raffle prizes, at 651-644-2133 or email dawn@testing.accesspress.org. For more information go here.