On April 27, attendees of the Eden Prairie Community Foundation’s “EP Gives” fundraising event will be whisked away to an evening of Caribbean flavors with dinner, dancing, and more at Bearpath Golf and Country Club.

But event attendees will also have the opportunity to support local youth via a special fundraising appeal for Eden Prairie TreeHouse.

Eden Prairie TreeHouse’s director, Tammy Ryder-Harms, describes TreeHouse as a nonprofit that supports teens struggling with a wide variety of problems including poverty, neglect, and troubled family dynamics. Through TreeHouse mentoring, groups, and activities, teens are given support that helps them to grow into productive and successful adults, despite their current circumstances.

The new Eden Prairie chapter of TreeHouse currently serves more than 40 teens with a goal to provide assistance to an entire generation. While this may seem like a tall order, the organization is well on its way to growing programming and garnering more volunteer support. However, it takes more than well-meaning people to achieve this goal, thus the need for financial support through the fundraising appeal.

“Giving will build our capacity to reach more teens and build upon and expand the programs we currently offer,” says Ryder-Harms. “Additionally, giving that helps create healthy teens makes a positive investment that transforms both the teens and the entire community.”

The Foundation has included an on-the-spot fundraising appeal at its EP Gives event the past several years. Last year it raised more than $26,000 at EP Gives to help launch Onward Eden Prairie, the new nonprofit that is providing safe and stable housing to homeless young people ages 18-22.

This on-the-spot appeal called a fund-the-need exemplifies the Foundation’s mission to fill unmet, critical needs in Eden Prairie. Many of the appeals have focused on our youth because they deserve the best help that Eden Prairie can offer.

Of course, the EP Gives event includes much more than the special appeal for TreeHouse. The sit-down dinner has a Caribbean menu, and trop-rock music by BoRiddley will follow the dinner, live auction, and fund-the-need. (Tropical attire is admired, but not required.) The Foundation will also be recognizing its 2019 grantees and scholarship winners.

Tickets to EP Gives, which takes place from 6 to 10:30 p.m., cost $100 each ($65 of which is tax-deductible) and are available on this website. For more information about EP Gives, contact Weber at (952) 949-8499 or [email protected].

We are indebted to the business and individuals who are sponsoring this event. Take a look.

For more information about TreeHouse visit: https://www.treehouseyouth.org/locations/eden-prairie. Or, see their powerful video.

(Foundation volunteer Emily Shelton contributed to this blog post.)