The 15th annual Carnivale USA fundraiser for the kidscommons children’s museum downtown drew about 300 people and generated an estimated $110,000 profit, about the same as last year, organizers said.
Proceeds include a record $84,000 in sponsorships, with Elwood Staffing and Cummins Inc. leading the way, said Ben Wagner, kidscommons executive director. He credited a three-person development committee plus outside help from others for making that happen.
Revenue from the event, conducted Saturday at the children’s museum, also came in from ticket sales, a silent auction of 76 items and a live auction of eight items, Wagner said.
Wagner praised chairs Missy and Eric Neal and Doug and Deb Roese for their work, as well as a host of other volunteers who made the event possible.
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The fundraiser, originally launched and patterned after the festive Carivale in Brazil, is especially significant for the nonprofit museum that attracted more than 50,000 visitors in 2017 for the third year in a row, Wagner said.
This year, Carnivale highlighted elements of America in four regions of the country. That included a menu from chef Gethin Thomas.
“We got a lot of compliments about the decorations and spreading out the food stations (throughout),” Wagner said.
People unable to attend Carnivale can still donate to the cause at kidscommons.org, he said.
