My inner child was out in full force Friday night for the St. Luke’s Kid for a Night. Arriving at the Boise Centre on The Grove, I got to choose my age for the evening (age 8, thank you very much) and then proceed into a world filled with magic and fun for all ages.

Like kids at a carnival, we ran around The Grove trying out the fun activities. There was the Gyroscope, a bungee run, scooter racing, several varieties of inflatable jumping machines, plus lower-impact activities such as making a video as the DanceHeads, fortune telling, and craft activities.

I was surprised and a bit delighted that there wasn’t a live auction nor were there any presentations during the evening. Dinner was a buffet, freeing us to just enjoy the activities throughout the entire evening.

Other than the silent auction, there really weren’t any reminders that this was a fundraiser. Instead, for the price of the ticket, you had been granted a night of total freedom from all obligations. Although a higher ticket price than a kid’s carnival, I can’t think of a more fun way to help a good cause.

Kid For a Night benefited the St. Luke’s 2008 Project for Philanthropy which is providing funding for its Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The NICU provides care to 1,000 babies each year including infants born as early as four months premature and weighing as little as 1 pound.

Great job, St. Luke’s. I’ll be back next year … my knees should have just about recuperated by then!

Larissa Lamson