Panthers for a Purpose

The Panthers for a Purpose Week of Giving celebration will take place February 22-28. To top off the week, the biggest Panther Party celebration will be held on February 28, 2026 at Bunker Hills Event Center in Coon Rapids featuring an amazing silent auction and entertainment by local favorite band, Good for Gary! Tickets go on sale January 5, 2026 for the party!

There are many ways to get involved including sponsorship, silent auction donations, volunteering and more! Browse this page to learn more about this year's Fund-A-Dream program and to learn more on how to get involved. For quick access to our most popular topics, click the links below!

How to Get Involved
Event Sponsorships
Party Details
Week of Giving
Silent Auction
Event FAQs

How to Get Involved

There are many ways to get involved! Here's a snapshot of the 2025 events and activities.

Purchase Party Tickets

Become a Sponsor

Donate to the Auction - Wish List

Our Silent & Live Auction boosts more than 350+ packages. We can only offer that with the support and generosity of our community. We are looking for merchandise, services, and experiences that will capture the interest of our participants.

Gift Cards: restaurants & shops for kids or adults, both local and in the metro area
Kids Items or Baskets: LEGO's, books, crafts, games, robot, outdoor fun, creative items, sports items
Parent Items or Baskets: beauty & self care, fitness items, MN made products, beer/wine/liquor, items for the home, lottery tickets
Admissions: pro sports tickets, concert or show tickets
Travel: stay at a hotel, cabin, timeshare
Tech Items: Apple items, home tech products, Occulus, Robovac, gaming systems, Amazon Tech

Please email us to let us know if you'd like to commit to a donation. Thanks in advance for your support.

Join the Planning Committee

Participate in the Silent Auction

Event Sponsorships

Over the years, the Panther Foundation has funded 400+ rich and diverse projects totaling more than $2.3 million. If it's good for kids, the Panther Foundation is there.

Sponsorship of this year's event offers an opportunity to be a part of this broad and purposeful work. Each sponsorship allows the Panther Foundation to touch more students and do more. Join us as we partner with our district to provide world-class experiences to each member of our school community.

2026 Sponsor Opportunities available soon.

PACKAGES

PACKAGES	Party Tickets	Event Marketing & Communication	Recognition During Program	Special VIP Events Invite
Legacy Partner $2,000	4	Logo	Yes	Yes
Graduate - $1,500	2	Logo	Yes	Yes
Community Partner - $1,000	2	Logo	Yes	Yes
Honor Roll - $500	-	Name	Yes	Yes
Young Scholars - $250	-	Name	Yes	-
Panther Friends - $100	-	-	Yes	-

LEGACY PARTNER: $2,000 +

GRADUATE: $1,500

COMMUNITY PARTNER: $1,000

HONOR ROLL: $500

YOUNG SCHOLARS: $250

Party Details

The Panther Foundation Party takes place Saturday, February 28, 2026, 5 p.m. at Bunker Hills Event Center in Coon Rapids. The Party will close out the fundraising week featuring an amazing Silent Auction and will feature entertainment by local favorite band, Good for Gary. Guests will sing and dance the night away, celebrating SLP Schools and our community. We are planning a fun evening with apps, games and special program moments.

Party Details

Purchase Tickets

Special Entertainment - Good for Gary

Good for Gary is a Twin Cities cover band that specializes in playing current and past dance hits, focusing on the newest Top 40 songs. With a 7-piece line-up, Good for Gary plays without the use of tracks or samples that most of their contemporaries use. The band has been playing since 2008 seeing SOME of the song list moving from brand new hits to throwback classics. Their devotion to getting people moving and staying current with today’s top hits makes Good for Gary one of the most exciting and sought-after cover bands in the Twin Cities.

Fund A Dream - Project Details Coming Soon!

Week of Giving - February 21-28

The 2026 Week of Giving is February 21-28, 2026. No tickets are necessary to participate in the "Fundraising and Pride Week" portion of events. This Fundraising and Panther Pride week includes an online silent auction, dine-to-donate opportunities at local restaurant partners and Panther Pride activities all week long!

Dine to Donate & Panther Sightings
Show your Panther Spirit!

Dine to Donate & Panther Sightings

Show your Panther Spirit!

Panther Spirit Days

Plan now to dress head to toe in our school colors all week long. Send in photos to the Panther Foundation to be entered into a drawing to win a gift card to the Panther Store:

Monday, February 23 -
Tuesday, February 24 -
Wednesday, February 25 - Red Out
Thursday, February 26 - Blue Out
Friday, February 27 - Panther Spirit Day!

Panther Store Sale

Get your gear at the Panther Store so you have gear to wear for the spirit days!

Panthers for a Purpose (P4P) Spirit sale:

Online Coupon Code:

In-Store Hours:

Silent Auction

Preview Items

Register Your Household

Regitration opens January 5, 2026.

To bid on Silent Auction items you need to register your family/household. If you purchased a ticket for the Silent Auction, you are all set. if you are not attending the party, click the link above and go to "Get Started."

If multiple family members register from the same household, then it is likely you will be bidding against each other. once your family is registered, you can share the link to bid together as a household.

Browse & Bid

Browsing

You can choose to browse all or by category. Category list is in the upper left hand corner of your screen. Items will be visible starting the week of February 16.

Mark Your Favorites

Before bidding opens on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 3 p.m. and you are registered and signed in on the app, you will be able to mark your favorites by clicking the start. Having a "favorites" list will help you find and watch the packages you are most interested in once bidding is live.

Mobile Bidding

If you are outbid you will be notified via text message
You can keep an eye on your bidding packages and any "favorites" by clicking on the drop-down menu and selecting "My List."

Bidding Tips

Mark Your Favorites

Before bidding opens and you are registered and signed in on the app, you are able to mark your favorites by clicking the star. Having a "favorites" list will help you find and watch the packages you are most interested in once bidding is live.

Mobile Bidding

Bid - Bid the Next Increment
Bid More - Bid more than the next increment or set your Max Bid.

Pick Up Items

Where can I pick up my items?

Winners will receive a communication following the completion of the Silent Auction. This will include an appointment link to schedule a pick up time the week of March 2.

Where will I pick up the items?

District Services Center
1415 81st Avenue NE
Spring Lake Park, MN 554323
Door 12, Early Childhood Door

Park Curbside & Come On In

Park, then come on in to let us know you are there. We will have your packages ready for you and can assist you getting them into your car.

General Auction Rules

All Sales are final
Bidder is responsible for monitoring personal mobile bids
Report any unauthorized activity on your silent auction bidding account immediately to 763-600-5550.
All items are sold on a "as is" or "where is" basis
Purchaser is responsible to note the expiration date on items
Values shown online in catalog are donor's best estimate and are not guaranteed by the Panther Foundation
Payment is to be made in full via credit card following the completion of the auction
Items must be picked up within 5 business days of the close of the auction

Having Trouble?

If you are experiencing trouble with the Silent Auction bidding, please reach out to our team. We will be happy to assist you.

Email

Share as much as you can in the email so that we can assist you promptly, thank you.

Email the Panther Foundation

Phone

763-600-5550

Leave us a message and we will get back to you ASAP. This phone will not be answered after 3 p.m. Friday, February 21, 2025.

Company Match/Giving

2025 Annual Sponsors

Become an Annual Sponsor

Become an Annual Sponsor and impact the Foundation and Spring Lake Park Schools all year long. Learn more about becoming an Annual Sponsor, the benefits and how to get your logo added to our website here.

Event FAQ's

Can't find an answer to your question? Reach out the Panther Foundation

What should I wear?

How can I sit with my friends? Is there a way to buy a table?

Yes you can sit with your friends! Seats are reserved at the tables so you have a place to drop your belongings and rest a bit between dances. To request seats with your friends, you must include a "Party Name" with your registration. Please make sure the Party Name is the same for the entire group.

Tables will seat 8 or 10. It will depend on the number of tickets sold and location in the room.

If you'd like to purchase the tickets for your friend group to ensure you are sitting together, please note that only the purchaser will receive the tax deductible receipt of purchase. We are unable to provide receipt of purchase for money exchanged outside of the Panther Foundation.

I can't come to the Party, how can I still be involved?

Do I have to live in the Spring Lake Park Schools community to attend or participate?

How much of the ticket is a tax deductible donation?

Do I need to register for the silent auction if I purchase a party ticket?

Is this the Gala?

This is the Panther Foundation's largest fundraiser of the year with all proceeds supporting Spring Lake Park Schools. Since 2004, we are proud of the 16 annual Gala events hosted by the Panther Foundation and attended and supported by so many of our community over the years.

In 2021, we were unable to hold our traditional formal event due to the COVID Pandemic. In 2022 we started a new tradition with our event taking elements from the virtual event of 2021 and the galas from the past. This event is our largest fundraiser of the year - even though it may look and feel a little different from the galas of the past, we hope this format will engage more of our community in the Giving Week and celebration.

How is this event different from the past galas? Guests enjoy appetizer stations throughout the evening instead of a formal sit-down meal.

Will we host a gala again the future? Perhaps.

Panthers for a Purpose Week of Giving and Party