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The Greater Mankato Area United Way supports 55 programs within 36 agencies in a 4 county area that includes Blue Earth, Nicollet, Le Sueur, and Waseca counties. The Fire & Ice Ball is their largest annual fundraising event that takes place each December.
APX Construction Group prides itself on giving back to the communities where we live and work. In 2022 we supported over 65 nonprofit organizations through sponsorships, donations, volunteering, and in-kind support. Through our APX Giving program, employees are encouraged to volunteer and get involved with causes in which they are passionate.
Fire & Ice Conceptual Renderings
This year, one of the many causes championed by APX Construction Group was the United Way’s Fire & Ice Ball. The goal of the APX creative team was to use the innovative thinking that sets us apart in the commercial construction industry to create an exciting new layout for the event. Using our 3-D design tools and the Fire & Ice theme of ‘Old Hollywood Glamour’, we got to work on flipping the Mayo Clinic Health Systems Event Center inside out. The concept started by imagining bringing the socializing into the center of the room. The event program moved to a two-tiered center stage. The bars surrounded the stage on the floor with cocktail tables and room for conversation. Banquet tables for dinner were arranged around the perimeter of the room. The center stages were framed by a four-sided lighted marquee.
The marquee became the centerpiece of the decor and aesthetic of the event. The APX creative team designed and constructed the marquee using foam board insulation, galvanized mending plates, duct tape, and zip ties. (Lots and lots of zip ties). The final product stretched 133 lineal feet and the installation took over 10 hours! We are so grateful the United Way staff and Fire & Ice committee entrusted us with this project. The end result was impactful and helped create an intimate atmosphere – not an easy task in a room of 700 people!
The Fire & Ice Ball took place on December 3rd. The program started with a live song and dance number from the United Way 2023 Campaign Chair, Matt Atwood and dancers from Dance Express. There were impact stories shared, thank you’s, another live performance by 11 year old, Savanna Hedlund and a live auction. The evening commenced with music from The Blue Water Kings and the announcement of the winner of the Can-Am side-by-side raffle.
In total the event netted a record $320,000 to support the United Way’s work of funding basic needs, health and education in our region. APX Construction Group understands the importance of organizations like the Greater Mankato Area United Way that help keep our region strong. Which is why we chose to give of our time, talents and treasure. Thank you to all who attended the event and continue to lift up our local nonprofits.
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