Mankato business honored at MVAC Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner
Minnesota Valley Action Council (MVAC) held its Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner to celebrate successes over the past year. Each year, MVAC honors an achiever or a supporter from each of the nine counties that represent the agency service area.
An Achiever is a service recipient honored for demonstrating success by overcoming multiple barriers, making vast improvements and significant achievements. This year’s achievers are Ted Garcera of Nicollet County, Adriana Sandoval of Martin County, Emily Joy Busch of Sibley County and Jewel Stewart of Waseca County.
A Supporter is honored for helping to support, strengthen, and sustain the goals of Community Action through selfless donation of time, energy, materials and knowledge. This year’s supporters are Oak Hills Living Center of Brown County, Mark Ulman of Watonwan County, and the Dork Den of Blue Earth County. Our Faribault County supporter wished to remain anonymous.
For more than 13 years, The Dork Den has been an extraordinary partner to MVAC through their participation in the youth employment program. Over the years, they have gone above and beyond in providing meaningful mentorship, guidance, responsibility, and trust to countless young people, even hiring several participants into permanent employment roles. Their commitment to empowering youth is truly inspiring.
“This past year, The Dork Den took their dedication to an entirely new level and created Mankato Con, a vibrant and exciting gaming convention that brought energy, creativity, and community spirit to our region,” said Ann Macgregor, MVAC Partnerships and Development Coordinator. “When they approached MVAC to be their nonprofit partner, we were honored. From the very beginning, they worked closely with us, thoughtfully incorporating our brand and ensuring MVAC was highly visible through promotions, media interviews, and event outreach. The results were nothing short of incredible. Mankato Con sold out, generated tremendous excitement, and even made a notable economic impact on the City of Mankato. Throughout the event, MVAC staff were welcomed as volunteers, and together we helped make the experience memorable for attendees.
Most importantly, their generosity and dedication resulted in a truly meaningful impact for MVAC.”
”Proceeds from the silent auction, additional game donations, and event earnings contributed over $7,000 to support MVAC’s mission. This level of support is not just impactful, it is transformative,” said Macgregor. “Plans are already underway for next year’s event. If this year is any indication, it will be even bigger and more amazing. We are incredibly grateful for The Dork Den and proud to celebrate all they do for MVAC and our community.”
The Dork Den exemplifies what it means to be a community partner. Their passion, generosity, and willingness to invest in both youth and community well-being make them an outstanding recipient of the MVAC Super Supporter Award.
