For 59 years the Franciscan International Award Dinner has been an opportunity for retreatants and friends of the retreat house to gather together and support the ministry of the Retreat House, as well as honoring a person or an organization who embodies the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
The Board of Advisors for Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center are pleased to announce that a local service organization, Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) will be the 2017 recipient of the Franciscan International Award. The Award will be presented at the Franciscan International Award Dinner on Thursday, May 11, 2017, at the Wilds Golf Club in Prior Lake.
In its Mission Statement, VEAP describes itself as “Neighbors serving neighbors in need.”
VEAP focuses on four program areas:
- Access to healthy foods – in 2015 VEAP distributed 3.5 million pounds of food, 40% of which was fresh produce.
- Access to social services – VEAP social workers use a holistic lens and create a space of hope to support families from crisis to stability. In 2015, VEAP used $167,168 to support housing, utilities and car repairs for clients.
- Access to transportation – volunteers provide transportation for low-income seniors to mostly medical appointments and rides home from VEAP’s food pantry. In 2015, volunteer drivers provided 8,045 rides for low-income seniors and 4,137 rides home from the food pantry.
- Access to resources for children and youth – VEAP’s children and youth resources are designed to support positive childhood memories. Parents have access to kid-friendly food, school supplies, gifts, birthday and baby bags, during times when they are faced with financial instability.
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Date: Thursday, May 11, 2017
Time: 6:00 p.m. Gathering with Social Hour
7:00 p.m. Dinner Presentation of the award following dinner
Location: The Wilds Golf Club, 3151 Wilds Parkway NW, Prior Lake, MN 55372
Dinner tickets: $60 Individual (1 person); $150 Sponsor (2 persons); $250 Patron (2 persons); $500 Benefactor (2 persons)
Sponsors, Patrons and Benefactors are listed in the program. To purchase tickets, call 952-447-2182. Tickets must be purchased in advance by Thursday, May 4th