Around and About
Published Tuesday July 21, 2009
The planning committee for the R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 golf event includes, from left, Judy Woods, Robin Spindler, Patricia Newman, Ste
phanie Kelly, Susan Koesters, Nick Zadina, Sue Behr and Brandon Rohe.
“There’s No Place Like Home” will be the theme for the fifth annual Heartland Family Service “S trike a Chord” fundraiser for southwest Iowa children and families.
Doug and Deb Goodman will be hosts of the event from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. July 31 at Harrah’s Casino in Council Bluffs.
Tickets are $60 per person. For more information, call Heartland Family Service at 712-322-1407 or visit nschulze@heartlandfamilyservice.org.
The benefit will begin with the piano stylings of local pianist Deb Jennings. Actor-radio personality Dave Wingert will be emcee and Jim Schaben of Dunlap, Iowa, will be the auctioneer. Entertainment will include a dueling piano performance with Jimmy Calanni and Randy Keith from LasVegas.
Regional food and drink favorites from across America will be served.
A number of local “celebrity” artists were selected to create works of art to be judged and then auctioned. The artworks will be decorated wooden bird houses. Funds raised by the art will be used to help homeless families.
“Strike a Chord 5” is conducted by the agency’s Southwest Iowa Advisory Committee, including Don Andersen, Marcia Antworth, Suzi Brehmer, Alice Edwards, Jody Edwards, Lisa Gronstal, Carl Heinrich, Ted Hoff, Cindy Hoover, Rick Killion, Kelley Kulesa, Lydia Mason, Joanie Tekippe and Barb Walsh. Nancy Schulze is the Heartland Family Service vice president of Iowa professional services.
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The Play Golf Fore R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 (Relationship Empowerment for Students, Parents, Educators & Community Through Theatre) even t June 29 drew 40 players to Indian Creek Golf Course. Afterward, 70 supporters took part in the silent auction and dinner, raising nearly $11,000 for R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 programs such as anti-bullying productions.
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Raise a glass to the first annual vinNEBRASKA Summer Wine Festival, which will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 22 at Rockbrook Village.
Proceeds will benefit Partnership for Our Kids programs, which include All Our Kids and Winners Circle.
World-class wineries such as Goosecross Cellars and Monticello Vineyards & Winery will offer samplings for guests to try while they view the works of more than 30 regional artists.
Guests also can listen to local bluegrass band Riverside Anthology, featuring Heidi Joy. Appetizers and desserts from Rockbrook restaurants such as Jaipur Brewing Company, Pasta Amore, Taste and the Garden Cafe will be served.
The event also will offer silent and live auctions that showcase handcrafted art pieces.
Tickets can be purchased for $75 (festival) and $150 (patron) at Corkscrew Wine and Cheese and the Winery, or by calling the Partnership for Our Kids office at 930-3000.
VinNEBRASKA Foundation is a local group of wine aficionados who organize special events. The group has raised more than $1 million for area charities over the past 20 years. In addition to fundraising, the committee also strives to boost the average Nebraska wine con sumer’s knowledge and appreciation for wine.
Partnership for Our Kids, formed in 2007, today serves more than 5,000 at-risk youth in the Omaha Public Schools with academic support, goal setting, career exploration, service learning opportunities and college access.
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