It's time to shine!

Join us for the annual Way to Grow Shine Celebration

Join us for an evening of celebration, connection, and purpose! Enjoy a delicious dinner, spirited entertainment, heartfelt stories, and the excitement of live and silent auctions. Our 2025 theme, The Head & the Heart, reflects the powerful balance at the core of Way to Grow’s work: pairing measurable impact with meaningful relationships. Rooted in the real-life experiences of the families we serve, this night honors the strength of parents, the power of early learning, and the community that surrounds each child with care. Together, we’ll raise a glass to brighter futures for all.

When:
Friday, October 3, 2025
5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Where:
The Depot, Minneapolis
225 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Sponsorship Inquiries:
Please contact Melissa Meyer at [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to become a Shine Sponsor.

The Situation

Despite decades of investment, persistent gaps in early childhood education and family well-being remain— particularly when measuring for race and income. Research confirms that the first eight years of life are critical to a child’s development, with long-term consequences for health, education, and lifetime economic opportunity.

Way to Grow was established to address these gaps by reaching families where they are, both literally and figuratively. Our model is rooted in trusted relationships, customized and culturally relevant home visits, and tailored support for the whole family. All this is designed to foster healthy developmental and academic outcomes for families from prenatal stages through third grade.

Way to Grow’s Story

Way to Grow is a nonprofit working to close early learning and health disparities for children and families living in under-resourced areas. Since 1989, we have delivered high-impact, multi-generational support through intensive home visiting and holistic programming. Our mission is simple yet powerful: ensure children are born healthy, stay healthy, and are ready to succeed in school and life.

Through culturally responsive, evidence-based interventions, Way to Grow equips families with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to break the cycle of poverty. This year, we project serving over 800 families (2,400 parents and children). Every day, our critical work increases family stability and well-being, school readiness, grade-level reading, and parent engagement throughout the first eight years of life.

Sponsoring Our Work

Our signature program, Great by Eight, blends in-person and virtual home visits, allowing us to reach more families in Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs. With sustainable funding and strategic partnerships, we can continue scaling our work, innovating our model, and reaching more families across Minnesota. We invite you to join us in building that future.

By investing in Way to Grow, you are investing in a proven, high-impact home visiting model that improves school readiness, strengthens families, and closes education and opportunity gaps across the Twin Cities.

Sponsorship is more than a check—it’s an investment in our shared future. Will you join us?