Live Streamed June 4th, 2025
Live Streamed June 4th, 2025
Donate to Season 2 by clicking below!
Check: Please make checks out to “Live to Give Minnesota” and put contestant’s name as memo.
Mail to: Live to Give PO Box 172 Rogers, MN 55374
Meet the cast of Season 2:
Alex Giordano
Playing for Metro Trans Umbrella Group:
I wanted to select a charity local to my community, and MTUG lets me support both my home of Saint Louis and my LGBTQ+ community, too. MTUG offers a variety of resources such as: support groups; food, toiletry, and clothing donations; and name change assistance. I want the donations to provide as large a range of support as possible and I think the Metro Trans Umbrella Group will help make that happen.
Andy Lupinek
Playing for Project Success:
Project Success empowers students across Minnesota by providing mentorship, resources, and real-world experiences that help them unlock their full potential. Proven to guide young people toward new opportunities and bright futures, PS bridges the gap between aspirations and achievements, ensuring that every student has the chance to discover and pursue their dreams. Our kids deserve every opportunity to learn who they want to be and how they want to make their mark. I would be honored to play for a program that I have seen first-hand leave a lasting impression on the community it serves.
Ashleigh Pursell
Playing for Giving Kitchen:
"The Giving Kitchen started here in Atlanta and it provides emergency assistance to food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources. They pay the bills, keep the lights on, keep you in your home. When a food service worker can't work due to an illness or injury, a death in the family or something like a fire or flood, they make sure that one crisis doesn't create a Cascade of many. They started out as a grassroots organization only able to help those in the city of Atlanta and now, they are nationwide. A few years ago they were honored with the James Beard humanitarian award, while only being able to help the state of Georgia, it's a national award. They're amazing... I have been helping them kind of since the beginning, from pulling weeds around the office to talking about them at conventions. They are truly a stellar organization."
Ashley Schoenborn
Playing for Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center:
I am raising money for the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center. This organization is meaningful to me, due to my roots. I grew up and spent most of my young life on the White Earth Reservation. I have seen the negativity, trauma, and victimization that Native Americans can deal with related to violence and the stripping of Native American culture. Further continuing my education within law, I continued to do additional research to see how laws have impacted Native American land, government, and culture. This organization's focus is to empower Native women and families to exercise Native American cultural values with integrity and to achieve sustainable lifeways, while advocating for justice and equity. This organization helps in many ways, from advocacy and mental health help, to housing and shelter resources, to community and support groups. I cannot wait to play and raise money for such an amazing organization!
Carley Daum
Playing for Minnesota Assocation for Environmental Education:
Being and learning outdoors has been one of the most beneficial parts of my life. While I was student teaching, I was introduced to environmental education in an elementary school setting. There are so many benefits to and connections that can be made by bringing learning outdoors and introducing nature/environmentalism into the classroom. I now work at the school that I was student teaching at and can see the difference that our emphasis on outdoor learning has made within our students both in social-emotional learning and academics. Our school works closely with foundations in Minnesota geared towards environmental education, which led me to the Minnesota Association for Environmental Education. MAEE's mission is to support and advance environmental education throughout the state, both for educators and students. They truly support educators in being able to bring engaging, real world, and natural resources and lessons into their classrooms, schools, and districts. I have seen the impact that they have made at our school and am so excited to support them in bringing environmental education into the typical learning that is done within our schools and as outreach in Minnesota.
Clare Kelly
Playing for The Epilepsy Foundation:
I was diagnosed with epilepsy in my 20s. It's a life-changing and, at times, debilitating condition. The Epilepsy Foundation of America (EFA) provides groundbreaking research and invaluable resources for those of us living with this disease. My neurologist always tells me that seizures are random and they are managed but not cured. However, thanks to organizations like the EFA, people with epilepsy can lead full lives and look forward to improved treatments and, potentially, a cure in the future.
Devin Nelson
Playing for Big Brother, Big Sisters Twin Cities:
I value mentorship. It plays a big role in the development of our young people. I wouldn't be in the position I am now if it wasn't for strong mentors that have come in and out of my life over time. It's on us to prop up the next generation and make sure they are successful. Overall, this is what Big Brothers Big Sisters is trying to do.
Justin Timmerman
Playing for American Cancer Society:
Both my mother and grandmother have been diagnosed with cancer. My grandmother shared her diagnosis with me when I was 12 years old, and my mother shared her own diagnosis when I was a senior in high school at 17. I’ll never forget the sorrow and fear that seized me in those moments. All I could think about was their health, if they would be able to make it through. I pictured what my life would look like without them, and how I could help. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do but cross my fingers and hope. I was absolutely powerless, and those were some of the worst moments in my life. But thankfully, they both survived. The absolute joy and relief that washed over me in those moments is also something I’ll never forget, and will always cherish. American Cancer Society is an organization that supports cancer patients and conducts research so that cancer treatments can become even more effective and save more lives. Unlike when my mother and grandmother were diagnosed, now, I have the power to help. Should someone else be in a similar situation to me where a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, I want them to be able to share my experience of relief and joy by having their loved one healed as well. To that end, I want to be able to contribute to the cause by donating money to the organization to help forward their efforts, and by proxy, help more people defeat cancer.
Karynn Adams
Playing for American Liver Foundation:
I am fundraising for the American Liver foundation which is a nonprofit that promotes liver health and disease prevention. My grandpa passed away from liver cancer last year and in honor of his memory I wanted to raise money in efforts to help others with liver disease as money raised will help provide support/resources to families, fund clinical trials and bring awareness and education for increased prevention of developing liver disease.
Katie Hilgren
Playing for Immune Deficiency Foundation:
My brother was diagnosed at the age of 3 in 1992 with a primary immunodeficiency (PI). Throughout his childhood, he received immunoglobulin infusions every three weeks, battled numerous infections and had frequent hospitalizations. In 2021 he developed an aggressive Lymphoma as a complication of PI. After chemotherapy failed, he received a stem cell transplant. During this treatment, doctors were able to diagnose the specific type of primary immunodeficiency he has with genetic testing thanks to research and support from the Immune Deficiency Foundation. The stem cell transplant not only was a treatment for his Lymphoma but also a treatment/cure for his particular type of primary immunodeficiency. He has been in remission since 2023.
There are more than 450 types of PI that affect an estimated 500,000 people in the United States. On average, it takes 9-15 years to achieve a diagnosis. The Immune Deficiency Foundation programs help individuals achieve an early and accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and improved quality of life for those living with primary immunodeficiency.
Kody Shelly
Playing for Tennessee Equality Project:
The Tennessee Equality Project advocates for the rights and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community in Tennessee. They work to ensure equality, combat discrimination, and promote acceptance through education and advocacy. Their efforts contribute to building a stronger, more equitable community for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity in Tennessee. As a Nashvillian, as well as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, it's a charity that is close to me personally and is helping put the all in Y'all. TEP is helping to create a Tennessee for everyone.
Leah Odegard
Playing for Project Pinball:
I am a competitive pinball player and have been since 2023. Playing pinball got me through a really tough personal period in my life and introduced me to a community of caring and fun individuals that want to make pinball (whether competitive or recreational) inclusive for all. Project Pinball focuses on putting pinball machines into Children’s Hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses, and Assisted Living Facilities. It would mean the world to me to help a local facility in Minnesota raise enough funds for a pinball machine. Bringing joy and comfort to those through pinball is my passion and I hope I can make it happen in 2025!
Marty Partoll
Playing for Alzheimer’s Foundation:
I want to play for the Alzheimer's Foundation of America in honor of my grandpa who lived with Alzheimer's for over a decade and my grandma who was his primary caretaker for a majority of that time. AFA not only supports research for a cure/treatment for Alzheimers and other forms of dementia but provides support and services to families and caretakers of people with Alzheimers. For over 10 years, my grandma was my grandpa's primary caretaker and she didn't have any family who lived close to help on a regular basis. She was also not completely capable of taking care of my grandpa herself and it became an extreme toll on her mentally and physically to continue that role especially without a ton of resources at her fingertips. It was extremely difficult to see my grandma, someone who spent her entire life putting others before herself, not being able to properly help my grandpa as his diseased progressed and her own health deteriorated. There is a lack of understanding regarding how Alzheimer's truly impacts those taking care of someone who suffers from the disease and AFA provides resources such as a help line, support groups, and even tips to making a dementia family home. The fantastic resources that AFA provides to primary caretakers of Alzheimer's and dementias are why I want to play for them and it would be extremely humbling to do it in honor of my grandparents.
Staci Lee
Playing for ACLU of Ohio:
ACLU of OHIO - I am supporting the ACLU of Ohio because my state is continuing to pass bills that are damaging to the LGBTQ+ population. The ACLU protects the values enshrined in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution – fairness, equality, and a respect for individual rights.
Thomas Hill
Playing for Out Front MN:
“I chose to raise money for OutFront Minnesota because I believe the work they are doing is transformative not just for the LGBTQ+ community but for society as a whole. Their commitment to addressing anti-LGBTQ+ bias, hate violence, relationship abuse, and sexual assault is critical in creating safer and more inclusive communities. By offering crisis intervention services, confidential counseling, and advocacy, they empower victims and survivors to heal and reclaim their lives.
Tim Kineke
Playing for National Alliance on Mental Illness:
I've known several people who have had mental health struggles in their lives. It has a huge impact not only on the person but their caretakers, family, and friends as well. NAMI works to support both those with mental illness as well as those around them by offering resources throughout the journey. When the illness is first recognized, NAMI helps by informing families of mental health resources available at local law enforcement agencies (to prevent escalation in the event of the police being called on an individual with a mental illness) as well as providing advocates to help navigate the world of hospitals, in-patient programs, and insurance. Later in the process, NAMI has support groups for sharing experiences and not feeling so 'alone' both for the individual and their family. They assist in working through unemployment benefits, finding a job that works to the individual's strengths, and being an informal way to get families talking to each other. This last point is one I feel is extremely important - mental illness historically has been something people avoid talking about and try to sweep under the rug. NAMI is working to get rid of this stigma because nobody should be ashamed or scared to talk about their mental illness. Think of how many people have held their true feelings in and not gotten the help they needed because they thought something was wrong with how their brain was wired. NAMI is putting in the work to inform and assist those in this very difficult position and I would be honored to do anything I can to help advance their mission.