MinnPost photo by Jana Freiband

Jennifer Ford Reedy, representing GiveMN and its partner Razoo, presented a check for $11,250 to Joel Kramer. MinnPost won Razoo's March Goodness national philanthropy contest.

More than 700 MinnPost supporters gathered last night to laugh, cry and raise money to support high-quality journalism in Minnesota.

Some musical highlights of the show: “Governors Horse Race”; “We Got You,” a Sonny and Cher-style tribute to Sid Hartman who came onstage to receive a standing ovation; Suzanne Thompson as Susan Boyle singing Gov. Pawlenty’s swansong “Don’t Cry for Me, Minnesota”; “Big Bucks” and “I Was The News” featuring jazz vocalist Christine Rosholt; and the MinnPost Village People, back for the third year, ranting and raving about the usual suspects. Special thanks to celebrity cast members Peter Bell, Larry Pogemiller, Don Shelby, Roxane Battle, Jason DeRusha and Brian (BT) Turner.

Margaret Anderson Kelliher, who was scheduled to appear, had a few cities to visit yesterday and didn’t make it. But other current and former governor candidates showed up, including Mark Dayton, Tom Horner, R.T. Rybak, Leslie Davis, Rob Hahn, Steve Kelley and Becky Lourey. Plus elected officials, print and broadcast media big-wigs, journalists and dignitaries. We’ll put up a slide show in the next day or two.

Razoo, an online donor-oriented giving platform, presented MinnPost with a check for $11,250 for winning the Midwest Region and then the Final Four in Razoo’s March Goodness national philanthropy contest. Overall, nearly 6,000 unique donors gave more than $264,000 to the 96 nonprofits selected to participate in March Goodness. Jennifer Ford Reedy, who oversees GiveMN, a Minnesota online philanthropy portal that works with Razoo, presented the check to Joel Kramer, and read a congratulatory note from Razoo’s president, J. Sebastian Traeger.

We’ll have preliminary fundraising numbers to report in the next few days. But whether or not you came last night, you can act now to help us reach our fundraising goal.  

This year’s special appeal, the Watchdog Challenge, seeks contributions to help MinnPost reporters keep a watchful eye on public figures, institutions & businesses.

And, all contributions made by May 15 will be matched by a member of the MinnPost Board who wishes to remain anonymous.

Donations in any amount are welcome and greatly appreciated. Here’s the link.

A few people asked when they can buy tickets for next year. Not yet -- but stay in touch.