Attire: Dress to Celebrate! Business Casual to Wedding Dressy — festive and polished, but not overly formal.
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM
2:00-3:00 PM
Cocktail/Social Hour
Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar
Bid on items in Silent Auction (online and in-person)
3:00-5:00 PM
Program Presentation
Hear inspiring keynote speakers Kee Shen and Mary Ehmke tell their personal heartfelt stories about living with Aphasia and Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA).
MnCAN Break the Barriers Gala is our biggest fundraiser of the year
The MnCAN Break the Barriers for Aphasia Gala is more than a fundraiser - it is a powerful reflection of the lives we touch and the community we’ve built together.
Imagine having your life turned upside down by a stroke, brain injury, or another medical condition that affects your ability to communicate with the world around you.
Imagine knowing exactly what you want to say - but being unable to get the words out.
Your thoughts are still there.
Your intelligence is still there.
Your personality is still there.
Your memories, your humor, your opinions, your stories—all still within you.
But suddenly, the way you connect, interact, and show the world who you are has changed.
For many people living with aphasia, apraxia, or primary progressive aphasia, this can feel incredibly isolating and frustrating. The person hasn’t changed. Their ability to communicate has.
And that’s where understanding, patience, support, and community can make all the difference.
We believe that every person deserves to be heard, understood, valued, and included—no matter how difficult communication becomes.
And that’s where everything begins to change.
When individuals and families first come to MnCAN, they are often overwhelmed, isolated, and uncertain about the future. They are navigating a diagnosis that has taken so much—and they don’t yet know where to turn.
We meet them in that moment.
We welcome them into a warm, understanding community. We walk alongside them through every stage of their journey. We provide education, connection, and support—ensuring they never have to face aphasia or primary progressive aphasia alone.
Here, they find others who truly understand. They build relationships, share experiences, and lift one another up in ways that only this kind of community can offer.
The impact is profound.
The connections are lasting.
And the hope that is restored is truly priceless.
Won't you join us in person to see how magical and special our MnCAN family truly is?
