Wonder Takes Center Stage at May AMP Session

Nearly 200 business and nonprofit leaders gathered on Tuesday, May 13 to champion two Minnesota-based nonprofits in a night filled with connection, community, and collaboration. Hospitality teams welcomed new guests with cheerful balloons, warm introductions, and the promise of a prize or two later in the evening!

Dinner came from Grace-Filled Table, a returning Amplify partner and nonprofit that fosters connection through shared meals. More than a meal, it was a tangible taste of their mission and a reminder of how Amplify continues to build long-term partnerships that drive real impact.

Andrea McMaster, Amplify’s President, opened the evening with reflections on this year’s theme: Embrace Wonder. “How often in life do we hold our fists tight?” she asked. “In that posture, it’s really hard to see wonder, let alone embrace it. When we loosen that grip and surrender, God has an amazing way of using our stories, even the messy, surprising, and scary parts.”

That message invited the room to lean into uncertainty with courage, curiosity, and faith. It also set the stage for the nonprofit leaders who would soon share how they’ve embraced wonder and are using the surprising and even messy part of their life to lead where God has called them.

Longtime Amplify volunteer and partner Aaron Bogott took the stage next, offering a powerful look at his journey through more than 20 years of service in Russia. His stories about faith, obedience, and discovering wonder in unexpected places reminded everyone that saying yes to God can lead to transformation both near and far.

Then it was time to hear from the night’s featured nonprofits:

Jeanine Viani, Executive Director of Art 2 Heart, shared how her team uses creativity to spread the love and hope of Jesus Christ. The organization operates from a powerful and unique model utilizing 100% volunteers to give away 100% of profits to support local organizations and ministry partners. With a desire to increase their impact, Viani invited Amplify partners to help generate ideas to raise awareness and drive more traffic to the shop, which fuels their generosity.

Tommy McBrayer, founder of Don’t Shoot Guns Shoot Hoops, shared his personal story of surviving gun violence and receiving a second chance through faith. What started as a single basketball event has grown into a nonprofit that has served over 2,000 youth. He invited business leaders in the room to help create a sustainable sponsorship model that could support program needs and drive long-term growth.

Amplify partners then responded with action. Through facilitated brainstorming discussions, people jumped in with ideas, connections, and solutions designed to help both organizations move past current barriers and step into new levels of impact.

A special thanks to Triune Leadership Services for sponsoring this event!