SlutFreeze A Sexual Violence Prevention Organization Fundraiser 5:30pm to 9pm SlutWalk Minneapolis hosts a fundraiser for Sexual Violence Prevention with a SlutFreeze

SlutWalk Minneapolis presents SlutFreeze, a Pre-Valentine's Day extravaganza of bellydancing, burlesque and drag to heat up your cold winter night. SlutFreeze is sponsored and hosted by the Saloon in downtown Minneapolis on February 11, 2012 from 5:30-9:00 pm.

Doors open at 5 pm with performances by the Smiling Lune Bellydancing at 5:40, Bawdy Blue: A Burlesque Revue at 6:40 and closing with a fabulous Drag Show at 7:40. Admission is only $7 and the minimum required ages are 18 to get in and 21 to drink.

SlutWalk Minneapolis struts its stuff and continues to prove that it is more than a walk in the park, or more specifically, a controversial walk in fishnets and heels.

In October of 2011, SlutWalk Minneapolis joined the worldwide movement to end victim blaming and put the focus on the perpetrators of sexual violence. Nearly 1,000 people of all ages, ethnicities, gender orientation and sexual orientation gathered for a 1.8 mile walk around St. Anthony Falls to challenge the notions that a survivor of sexual violence can prevent their own rape and that men are animals who cannot control their actions in the presence of a little skin.

In addition to the annual walk to raise awareness, SlutWalk Minneapolis educates the community about sexual violence, and provides support to survivors of sexual violence with events like Open Mic nights, where survivors can share their experiences in a safe, supportive environment.

For more information, reference www.slutwalkminneapolis.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Winter Plunge 2012 - Gettin' Cold for YOUR Cause 10am to 3pm The Rotary Club of Forest Lake is partnering with other local organizations to help jointly raise funds by allowing participants, or "Plungers", to jump into frosty, frigid, frozen Forest Lake in February. If you are interested in partnering with us, raising funds FOR YOUR CHARITY OF CHOICE by plunging, or pledging one or more Plungers, then visit http://www.winterplunge.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=475708 for more info!

Benefit for June Howard Poff 12pm to 5pm Join friends and family as they hold a benefit for June (Howar) Poff on Saturday, February 18th at the North Branch American Legion (6439 Elm St, North Branch).

June was diagnosed with Stage 2 & Stage 3 breast cancer in July 2011. After 2 mastectomy surgeries in September, she then began chemotherapy treatments in October and will continue through January 2012. As a result, the medical bills have become overwheling so her family is putting together a benefit to provide her and her family with a little assistance.

There will be a spaghetti dinner, raffles, silent auction, bake sale, cake walk & cash bar. Raffle tickets being sold in advance by family & friends. Many great prizes (need not be present to win!). Spaghetti Dinner: Adults $10 (11 yrs +), 4-10 yrs $5; 3 and under free! All proceeds will go to help with medical expenses

If you are wililng to donate your time, raffle prizes or other benefit supplies, please email junesbenefit@q.com

Dan Smith Family Benefit 4pm to 9pm Join friends and family at the Dan Smith benefit. Saturday, February 18th from 4pm to 9pm at the Hugo American Legion (5383 140th St. N). Admission is $10 - for food and an entry into the door prize drawing. There will also be a silent auction and raffles. For more info, please contact Kyla at 651-983-3895.

American Lung Association of MN's 2012 Fight for Air Climb 8am to 11am Sign up for the 2012 Fight for Air Climb, Saturday February 25 , Accenture Tower in Downtown Minneapolis. You'll climb thirty floors, and 660 stairs in this great fundraising event to benefit the American Lung Association. We're fighting for clean air and healthy lungs for everyone. Go vertical, have fun and raise money for a great cause. Sign up Today at http://www.lungusa.org/pledge-events/mn/minneapolis-climb-fy12/

5th Annual Lake O'Dowd Winter Golf Tourney 9:30am to 2pm Itchin' to be playing golf already? It's that time of year again! Get ready for the 5th Annual Lake O'Dowd Winter Golf Tourney on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10:00 am in Shakopee, MN. Come golf on the ice and help support a worthy cause. All proceeds benefit Feed My Starving Children, a hunger relief organization. To register, sponsor a hole or make a donation, visit http://www.goldenrulecharities.org/

GiGi's Playhouse - i have a voice Gala 7pm to 10pm GiGi's Playhouse is a center for Down syndrome awareness and education. They are having a fundraising event on February 25th.
Find out more about the organization here:
http://www.gigisplayhouse.com/

And more about the event here:
https://www.events.org/creg.aspx?e=39973&m=16

Omelet Breakfast & Bake Sale Benefitting Cherie Day 9am to 12pm Cherie Day is in need of her communities help. Cherie is in a financial hardship. She had an abscessed tooth which caused a serious staph infection, when removing the infected tissue the size of a racket ball from her throat they discovered that the infection had damaged ...one of her heart valves. She had to have open heart surgery to have the valve replaced and had a pace maker put in place. Cherie was in the ICU for 3 weeks. Cherie is a single mother of two. Cherie is a long time resident of Montrose. She is unemployed and has no medical insurance. She needs your help. They are holding an Omelet Breakfast & Bake sale on 2-26-12 at Montrose Community Center. Event organizers are looking for donations for the silent auctions, bake sale goods and raffle prizes. Please contact Christine Strome at 612-599-3150 or jdstrome@aol.com if you can help!See More

2012 Minneapolis Home and Garden Show 12pm to 6pm The 2012 Minneapolis Home and Garden Show promises an exciting lineup of the hottest home and garden ideas, experts, products and trends when it opens its doors on February 29-March 4, 2012 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Attendees of the 2012 Minneapolis Home and Garden Show will have the opportunity to meet over 1,000 experts, including HGTV's Chip Wade of "Curb Appeal: The Block" and "Designed to Sell", Mark Brunetz of Style Network's "Clean House" and Yigit Pura of BRAVO's "Top Chef: Just Desserts", and experience thousands of products and services. Tickets are $13 at the door, $4 for children (6 and under are free). For more information or to purchase discounted tickets visit http://www.homeandgardenshow.com or call 1-800-HOM-SHOW.

Wednesday, Feb. 29 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday, March 1 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday, March 2 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday, March 3 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday, March 4 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Above and Beyond Children's Foundation's Sweat into Spring Zumbathon 1pm to 3pm Come support Above and Beyond Children's Foundation at the "Sweat into Spring Zumbathon" on Saturday, March 3rd at the Champion Ballroom (5315 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis) from 1pm to 3pm. A two-hour party led by some of your favorite local Zumba instructors!

$10 per person

All proceeds will benefit Above & Beyond Children's Foundation and their efforts to keep after school programs alove throughout Minnesota!

To purchase tickets, please call: Heather Minkler 763.222.8575 or Mandi Zaffke 763.639.8360. For more information, visit http://www.theabcf.org/

HOME Improvement and Design EXPO 10am to 5pm Explore up to 200 exhibitors featuring the latest products and services for starting your home improvement project right from the start. Talk with the experts and get free tips and ideas. Meet builders, remodelers, landscapers, designers and other home improvement professionals. For more information, visit http://www.MediaMaxEvents.com

Food Allergy Awareness Walk 7am to 10am Minnesota's annual Food Allergy Awareness Walk will feature entertainment by the award-winning Teddy Bear Band, and will offer refreshments that accommodate those with food allergies. The Walk route and restroom facilities are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Walkers can walk as long or short as they choose, or stay in Macy's Courtyard to enjoy music and entertainment. For more info, visit http://www.minnesotafoodallergy.org or contact Nona Narvaez, (651) 644-5937 or walk@minnesotafoodallergy.org

Food Allergy Awareness Walk 8am to 11am Come out to the Food Allergy Awareness Walk

WHAT: Food Allergy Awareness Walk
WHEN: Saturday. March 24, 2012 8 a.m. (registration begins at 7 a.m.; music at 7:15)
WHERE: Mall of America ® Macy's Court, 60 East Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425
CONTACTS: Becki Bergman, Walk chair 651-230-7438, or AFAA at walk@minnesotafoodallergy.org

Minnesota's annual Food Allergy Awareness Walk will feature entertainment by the award-winning Teddy Bear Band, and will offer refreshments that accommodate those with food allergies. The Walk route and restroom facilities are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Walkers can walk as long or short as they choose, or stay in Macy's Courtyard to enjoy music and entertainment.

A link to online registration is available at www.minnesotafoodallergy.org as are printable walk registration forms. Donations can be submitted online, or in person the day of the walk. Participants of any age and ability are encouraged to create teams with family members, friends, co-workers, classmates, and neighbors. Individuals and teams can create their own online pledge pages with text and photos. There will be prizes for the teams with the most walkers and the teams raising the most donations. Walkers who earn at least $50.00 in donations will be awarded a Food Allergy Awareness t-shirt with its unique logo and slogan. Additional prizes will be awarded for higher donation levels.

More than 200,000 Minnesotans, including 55,000 school-age children, have food allergies. Approximately 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies and that number of affected individuals has risen rapidly (18% in a decade). Milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnut, etc.), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat are the most common allergens. Allergies to other foods are less common, but can be equally as serious.

There are more than 50,000 emergency room visits and 150-200 deaths per year in the U.S. from severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to food alone. Reactions can include hives, throat constriction, respiratory distress, vomiting, edema (e.g. swelling of throat, tongue, lips, face), blood pressure drop and shock. A mild allergic reaction can escalate to anaphylaxis in as little as two minutes. Although research is being done, at this point there is no cure for food allergies; avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction.

Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association of Minnesota (AFAA)
Proceeds from the Food Allergy Awareness Walk will go to the Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association of Minnesota (AFAA). AFAA is a Minnesota 501(c)3 non-profit organization with school, restaurant and medical policy accomplishments (including universal epinephrine availability in Minnesota ambulances; immediate access to epinephrine for allergic students in schools; and assisting in obtaining a $6 million increase in federal research funding); allergen-free activities for children and families (including the only food allergy camp in the U.S.); and widespread educational outreach efforts that reach more than 19,000 people in person per year.
For answers to AFAA questions, email us at info@minnesotafoodallergy.org

AFAA is a state-wide Minnesota 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to educate,
advocate, and to support those with life-threatening food allergies.
AFAA: Working to Take the Fear out of Food Allergies!

HOME Improvement and Design EXPO 10am to 5pm Explore up to 100 exhibitors featuring the latest products and services for starting your home improvement project right from the start. Talk with the experts and get free tips and ideas. Meet builders, remodelers, landscapers, designers and other home improvement professionals. For more information, visit http://www.MediaMaxEvents.com

There is Only 1 You Women's Expo 10am to 4pm Plan for a Girls Weekend in Stillwater!
April 13-14, Water Street Inn, downtown Stillwater
There is Only 1 You Stillwater Women's Expo is proud to bring to you an Evening for the Girls on Friday, April 13. Visit local wine and dessert businesses, mingle with old and new friends and watch a fashion show highlighting spring fashions in women's & men's clothing, jewelry, accessories, cosmetics and more! All in support of a good cause, event proceeds will be donated to FamilyMeans.
Purchase a ticket for $25 – your donation is tax deductible and supports women and families in the greater Stillwater area. Contact Lynnette Dirks, 651/235-0184 to purchase your tickets today! Limited quantity available.
The fun continues on Saturday April 14, 10:00-4:00 with a Women's Expo. Interact with over 60 women-owned businesses sharing their products & services.* Enjoy a complimentary women-focused financial presentation by Dana Erickson, Thrivent Financial. FREE ADMISSION….register on-site at Water Street Inn.
*Limited tables are still available for Saturday Women's Expo – contact Stacie Jensen, 651/210-1184.