The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation’s (AHEF) annual Northern Stars Celebration on Saturday, February 8 was a great success, with donors and sponsors giving over $80,000 for the Anoka-Hennepin students, schools, and foundation.
“Once again, our sponsors and donors went all in and we can’t thank them enough,” said Lynn Montgomery, event chair for the AHEF. “We have such deep and generous support from our community, from our sponsors and from within the district. As a grandparent of students in the district and as a volunteer, it’s very affirming.”
This year’s celebration was held at the Bunker Hills Event Center. “It was so much fun! The energy in the room was so positive and upbeat. This is by no means a stuffy or dull night,” said Tess DeGeest, executive director of the AHEF. The Northern Stars is an annual celebration of quality education in the district. This year’s celebration included an online auction, dinner, fun in-person games, and a short program highlighting the impact donors have had by supporting student learning across the district.
Funds donated will fuel equity l innovation for students and staff. “Our sponsors and donors are the real heroes here, they are the ones funding new and creative tools, technology, methods and curriculum for our students,” DeGeest emphasized.
Next year’s celebration is set for February 7, 2026, at the Bunker Hills Event Center in Coon Rapids. “Events like this are a great excuse to dress up, go out, and have fun while raising money for a fabulous cause, our kids and their education,” said DeGeest.
This year’s sponsors included the Ramsey Lions Club as the Platinum sponsor; Connexus Energy and Metro Sales, Inc. as Presenting sponsors; Medica and Wells Fargo Private Bank as Gold sponsors; ATS&R as a Silver sponsor; and Bronze sponsors, Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota, Scheller Legal Solutions, LLC, Anoka-Hennepin Elementary and Secondary Principals Association, Egan, Jorgenson Construction, and Border Bank. The dessert sponsor was Superintendent Cory and Jennifer McIntyre. Table sponsors included Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Northeast Bank of Minnesota, Delta Dental, Hallberg Engineering, Wold Architects, Waste Management, High Point Networks, Horace Mann, and MidWestOne Bank. The Valet sponsor was the Anoka Rotary Club. Sponsoring the Heads & Tails games were Lonn Boles, The Boles Group, Keller Williams Classic Realty and MidWestOne Bank. The auction was sponsored by Heartfelt Healing Touch and Mike Kraft Architects. The North Metro Mayors Association was an in-kind sponsor.
