C4C Celebrates 20th Annual Charity Auction

Carlson 4 Community (C4C), an organization led by MBA students, is celebrating 20 years of giving back to the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Last weekend, C4C hosted its 20th Annual Charity Auction, raising more than $30,000 for this year’s beneficiary, Urban Ventures. The nonprofit, which serves south Minneapolis, provides holistic, cradle-to-career support for children and families in an effort to break the cycle of poverty.

The gala united students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the greater community for a night of fun and giving through games, auctions, and more. Since starting in 2005, C4C has raised more than $580,000 for charity organizations in the Twin Cities. Mollie Dube, a second-year MBA student and co-president of C4C, says she’s honored to be part of the MBA Program’s rich tradition of philanthropy and volunteerism.

“It's about how we take these talents that we're learning here on campus and put them back into the community,” said Dube. “That's the power of Carlson and what I've learned through the MBA is the power of that network. Seeing all these different people come together to support the current students in our mission and our goal is really powerful.”

Luke Trouten, the director of development at Urban Ventures, praised the students’ dedication to hosting a successful event and furthering their community involvement.

“Caring about the work we're doing is a huge help,” said Trouten. “That comes not just from encouragement but also financial and volunteer support. They're engaging pretty much every way you can with our mission for this year. It’s been a very encouraging and uplifting experience and their enthusiasm has put extra wind in our sails.”

C4C’s work with Urban Ventures extends beyond the gala. The students will provide career development training to high school seniors as part of an Urban Ventures vocational program and also serve as volunteers for an upcoming community event. Trouten says he hopes this experience will encourage the C4C students to participate in philanthropy throughout their careers.

Donations to Urban Ventures can be made at the C4C’s donation link.