This year’s Champagne and Ice Gala, hosted by the Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center, will be held on Saturday February 25 at 6 pm. Tickets for this 13th annual event are available at https://npcac.cbo.io.
The NPCAC provides a compassionate and effective way to serve children victimized by sexual abuse and other crimes. Families that come to NPCAC are never charged for services. Funding for NPCAC comes from grants and community donations, so events like this are vital in continuing to serve children and families.
“Centers like this significantly reduce the trauma associated with child abuse and assists in holding offenders accountable. Every year, we serve more children than the last; in 2022 we saw 997 individuals,” said Christal Halseth, NPCAC Executive Director. “This gala has grown into our most valuable source of funding.”
An online auction will begin on February 17, concluding on February 25 at 8:15 pm. The auction will include baskets donated by area businesses, guitars autographed by Taylor Swift, U2, and Ed Sheeran; autographed jerseys from Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings, Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers, and LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers; and an 18”x30” American flag hand signed by Robert O’Neill, aka “The Operator” and the former U.S. Navy Seal who fired the shots that killed Osama Bin Laden during the raid on his Abbottabad compound on May 2, 2011. The bidding site is located on our Champagne & Ice page at https://npcac.cbo.io.
Raffle tickets are available for a 14k diamond tennis bracelet donated by Knowles Jewelry of Minot and valued at more than $10,000. Tickets are $20 each and available through any NPCAC staff or board member.
The gala will begin with a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres. Erin Merryn, founder of Erin’s Law, and named PEOPLE Magazine a “Heroes Among Us and one of 15 people changing the world,” will present before our live auction. After suffering six years of sexual abuse during her childhood, Erin broke her silence when she was 13 at a Children’s Advocacy Center. The CAC allowed Erin to reclaim her voice and begin her journey to healing; she has spoken at more than 250 CAC events.
In 2008, Erin began writing legislators to require personal body safety be taught to kids in school, what is known as Erin’s Law. Erin’s Law is the first US child sexual abuse prevention education law requiring children be educated in schools. Erin is author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today and An Unimaginable Act. Following Erin’s presentation will be the live auction and raffle for the diamond bracelet.
Tickets are $50/person; guests must be 21 or older to attend. Gatsby themed attire is encouraged and there will even be a best dressed contest!
Founded in 2007, a Bottineau location was opened in 2020 and in Williston in 2021 making services more accessible for our rural areas.
“The Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center brings together a heroic team to fight for the most severe child abuse victims in our region while restoring hope and helping them focus on what really matters—being a kid,” Halseth said. “We work very closely with all levels of law enforcement, child protective services and prosecution.”
Be sure to check out the NPCAC’s Facebook page for gala updates. Please call 701-852-0836 or email christal@northernplainscac.org for raffle ticket information.
