Celebrate with Us at
THE ROYAL BASH

March 1, 2025 at 5:30 pm • Metropolitan Ballroom, Golden Valley

Join the hundreds of Hopkins parents, teachers, district leaders and community members for a fun night celebrating Hopkins schools and supporting the Hopkins Education Foundation's (HEF) grants at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley (map, free on-site parking).

Our gala fundraiser, celebrating 30 years of HEF, will feature a seated dinner, presentation, entertainment, games, and more. We will raise funds for our annual special project, Outdoor Opportunities (more details below), and Spark Grants for Hopkins teachers. The dress code is festive cocktail attire and the event is for guests 21+.

Tickets are on sale now.

Staff Ticket: $75
Individual Ticket: $150
Friends of the Foundation Ticket: $175

Our emcees for the evening will be Karl Schroeder, physical and health education teacher at Hopkins High School, who teaches an outdoor adventures class, with Betsy Anderson, a Hopkins grad, Hopkins parent, HEF board member, and former Hopkins School Board member.

4:45 pm Royal Reception cocktail hour - by invitation only

5:30 pm-Cocktails, Mingling, Games & Silent Auction.
7 pm- Dinner, Welcome, Raffle, and Cake Auction
8 pm - Silent Auction Closes, Program Begins
9 pm- Live music by the band Watson, Dancing & Games

Can’t attend? You can still participate in our silent auction (which opens Feb. 21), donate to the Outdoor Opportunities special project, or enter the $1,000 raffle! Raffle tickets are on sale now. Purchase for $100/each from a board member or call our office at 952-988-4097 (cash, check, or debit card per MN gambling rules). The raffle prize is $1,000 value. The winner will be drawn at the Royal Bash. You need not be present to win.

get tickets

FAQ

donate to the silent auction

special project

OUR SPECIAL PROJECT

Each year, we partner with Hopkins Public Schools on a project that will have a districtwide impact. This year, our Outdoor Opportunities special project will inspire Hopkins students to develop outdoor and leadership skills, build community, and experience joy and connection to the natural world with activities like camping, hiking, canoeing, and more.

Funds raised at the Royal Bash for the Outdoor Opportunities project will make the class trips listed below possible for students in the District, help the outdoor program acquire more gear, and fund a scholarship for future trips. We hope these initial trips and the Outdoor Opportunities fund will help inspire our schools to create new outdoor traditions for years to come.

Elementary: Fifth grade trips to YMCA Camp Ihduhapi.
Middle School: Eighth grade trips to YMCA Camp Ihduhapi.
High School: Camping trip for 120 students.
Outdoor Gear: Expand the High School inventory of camping, hiking, and outdoor gear, to help make it possible for all kids to have outdoor learning experiences, regardless of income.
Outdoor Opportunities Fund: Any additional funds raised will be placed in a scholarship fund to make future outdoor trips accessible to our low income families.

DONATE to special project

““Through this project, our Hopkins students will have hands-on and experiential learning experiences that cannot be replicated within the walls of a traditional classroom. Outdoor learning brings academic concepts to life,” says Schroeder. “It encourages creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and connectedness with their local and global environment. Studies consistently show that time spent in nature promotes better mental health by lowering anxiety, boosting mood, and improving focus—key factors for academic and personal success. The Outdoor Opportunities special project will help immerse our Hopkins students in the natural wonders of Minnesota, authentically expose them to life-changing outdoor physical activities, and in turn, foster their holistic development, giving them memories that will last a lifetime and a desire to advocate similar experiences for our future Hopkins families.””

— Karl Schroeder, Hopkins High School teacher and leader of outdoor adventures course

get tickets

FAQ

How can I purchase tickets? Tickets are available online at three different pricing levels.
- Staff Ticket: $75
- Individual Ticket: $150
- Friends of the Foundation Ticket: $175
Where will the gala be held?
- The Royal Bash will be held at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley (see map).
- There’s plenty of on-site free parking.
What’s the timeline for the March 1 gala?
- 4:45 pm Royal Reception cocktail hour - by invitation only
- 5:30 pm-Cocktails, Mingling, Games & Silent Auction.
- 7 pm- Dinner, Welcome, Raffle, and Cake Auction
- 8 pm - Silent Auction Closes, Program Begins
- 9 pm- Live music by the band Watson, Dancing & Games
What is the dress code? Festive cocktail attire.
Is there an age requirement? Yes, you must be 21+ to attend.
What’s for dinner? Dinner is provided by D’Amico Catering. Choices include:
- Grilled tenderloin, fingerling potato, yellow squash, zucchini, baby carrot, creme fraiche, romesco (GF)
- Sauteed farmhouse chicken breast, potato gnocchi, parsnip, carrot, parmesan black pepper butter sauce
- Braised fennel, sauteed baby kale, pickled mustard seeds, hummus, tarragon basil oil, fried lotus root (GF, DF, VV)
How can I ensure that I sit with my friends? Contact Jacqui Barnard (jacqui.barnard@hopkinsschools.org, 952-988-5223) for a promo code to request group table seating, and we will try to accommodate you. You will then share that promo code with the other guests you want to sit with, and then when they buy their tickets, it will connect those orders with your seating request. Questions? Contact Jacqui.
How do I enter the “Treat Yourself” Raffle? Tickets are on sale now. Purchase for $100/each from a board member or call our office at 952-988-4097 (cash, check, or debit card per MN gambling rules). The raffle prize is $1,000 value. The winner will be drawn at the Royal Bash. You need not be present to win.
What is the special project this year? Named Outdoor Opportunities, this year’s special project aims to connect students with learning experiences outside the traditional classroom and off screens (see above).
How can I support HEF and the special project if I can’t attend?
- You can get a FREE Virtual Silent Auction Bidder ticket, which gets you entry to our online silent auction. Items will be updated regularly. Winners may pick up items at the Hopkins Education Foundation office in Eisenhower Community Center. The auction opens February 21 at 8am.
- You can enter the raffle (details above).
- You can donate directly.
How do I bid in the online auction? We strongly recommend that all attendees download the Givi app and login* after they purchase tickets (*remember the email you used to buy tickets). Royal Bash silent auction and day-of-event game purchases are both hosted on the app. The Qgiv desktop website for the auction is available for at-home bidding. The auction opens February 21 at 8am.
Who should I contact with my questions?
- Event Qs: Jacqui Barnard, Event Coordinator - Jacqui. Barnard@hopkinsschools.org, 952-988-5223
- Donation Qs: Jana Hoober, Foundation Manager - Jana.Hoober@hopkinsschools.org, 952-988-=4097
- General Info or Special Project Qs: Emily Wallace-Jackson, Executive Director - Emily.Wallace-Jackson@hopkinsschools.org, 952-988-4091
- Media Inquiries: Ellie Siler, Marketing Coordinator - Ellie. Siler@hopkinsschools.org, 612-616-2149