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We couldn't do our work without your support. Thanks for making us SHINE!

Watch our 2020 Shine Celebration!

What

Way to Grow’s Shine Celebration 2020

Rethinking Early Education From a Safe Social Distance

In 31 years serving our communities, we’ve always been innovators in delivering effective early education. Despite the pandemic, our work continues. Please join us for our annual Shine Celebration to hear how we’re staying connected to our families, and connecting children to a brighter future.

Questions? Check out our FAQs.

Get our event program, cocktail recipes, and family activity sheets:

Download our Event Packet

When & Where

Friday, September 25
6:30pm – Happy Hour
7:00pm – Program

Online!

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Auctions

1/4

Douglas M. Baker, Jr.

Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer, Ecolab

Keynote Speaker

Doug Baker is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, food safety and public health technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. Baker joined Ecolab in 1989 and held several marketing and general management roles in the U.S. and Europe before becoming president and chief executive officer in 2004. In 2006, Baker added chairman of the board to his duties.

Baker received a B.A. in English from College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts and he serves on the college’s board of trustees. He also serves on the board of directors of Target Corporation and is a member of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP). He and his wife Julie have long been advocates of high-quality early childhood education as a means to close Minnesota’s persistent education gaps. They are longstanding supporters of Way to Grow.

Megan Newquist

Megan is a multiple Emmy Award winning anchor. She joined 5 Eyewitness News in May 2009 and gets up very early so that she can bring you the news from 4:30-9:00 a.m. on KSTP & KSTC.

Host

T. Mychael Rambo

T. Mychael Rambo is a Regional Emmy Award winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and public speaker; who has made an indelible mark here in the Twin Cities. Nationally and internationally his stage credits include Carnegie Hall and performances abroad in Africa, Europe, and South America. He has appeared in local and national television commercials, feature films, HBO mini-series and other television programming.

Performances by

Jevetta Steele

Jevetta Steele is a member of the internationally acclaimed musical family the Steeles. She is most noted for her Academy Award nominated performance of Calling You from the movie Bagdad Café which was certified Gold in several European countries. Ms. Steele is an original member of the Broadway/touring hit & TONY AWARD winning “The Gospel at Colonus” and a featured artist in the film “CORRINA-CORRINA” starring Whoopi Goldberg singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”.

Performances by

Jearlyn Steele

Jearlyn is a member of the internationally acclaimed family, The Steeles, who have performed from Carnegie Hall to Brazil and to the Super Bowl Live Verizon stage in 2018. For more than a decade, she has been the Entertainment Reporter for Twin Cities Public Television’s award-winning political show Almanac interviewing local, national and international acts. she has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Prince, Mavis Staples and more.

Performances by