"Escape to Cooks' Island" was the theme of the eighth annual Heartland Family Service Strike a Chord fundraiser Aug. 3.
The event, at Harrah's convention center in Council Bluffs, raised $60,000 for Heartland Family Service. It included dueling pianos, a wine pull, a celebrity art auction, live and silent auctions, and a raffle sponsored by the Council Bluffs Walmart and Harrah's Stir Concert Cove.
Dave and Jody Edwards were event hosts. Their daughter, Brooke Hubbard, is Mrs. United States Iowa 2011, and she named Heartland Family Service as her charity of choice during her reign. At the event she assisted Matt Wilber, who served as master of ceremonies.
Highlights of the evening included an art contest of original works by local "celebrity artists" - chefs who created original designs on glass platters auctioned that night. René Orduña of Dixie Quicks won the People's Choice Award. Other artists included Elaine Fenner, Margarite Goodenow, Deb Gordon and Dan Peterson.
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Mercy High School's 21st annual Driving for Excellence Golf Fest raised more than $50,000 on July 23 at the Players Club at Deer Creek. The James Skinner Baking Co. sponsored the event.
One hundred seventy-seven players met the challenges of the heat and the golf course to raise funds for Mercy's Negotiated Tuition Program. The program creates an individualized tuition plan for each student, providing access to a Mercy education to any girl regardless of her family's financial means.
A burgers and brats lunch preceded a noon shotgun start. Players won cash prizes and were entertained by DJ Craig Estudillo, who mixed classic rock 'n' roll with Christmas tunes in his effort to help the players think about cooler days ahead. A buffet dinner followed play.
There was a spirited oral auction for a golf trip package that included travel dollars and four tickets to the 2012 Ryder Cup, which will be held at the Medinah Country Club near Chicago in late September. Mercy parent John Gilbert was the winning bidder.
Larry Good was golf committee chairman. Other committee members included Deb Peterson, Richard Anzalone, Ron Boner, Kristen Martin and Jim Pogge.
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The Midlands Community Foundation has announced that longtime Sarpy County residents John and Gail DeBoer will be the honorary chairmen for its 2013 Reflection Ball. The event will be held Jan. 5 at the Embassy Suites La Vista.
Kyle Black is event chairman and Jill Govier is vice chairman. Committee members include Brenda Carlson, Linda Clatterbuck, Jan Davis, Tami Field, Bindy Frederick, Mary Gawecki, Mary Beth Harrold, Patricia Iske, Diane Knicky, Carrie Krist, Bonnie Miller, Marlo Monico, Karla Rupiper, Fay Sampson, Toni Schropp, Leanne Sotak, Ken Summerfield, Donna Wilcox and Kris Zey.
The annual Reflection Ball provides financial support for nonprofit organizations that provide programs and services within Sarpy and Cass Counties.
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The Papillion Community Foundation was the recipient of proceeds from the 2011 Michael Dulkoski Memorial Golf Tournament.
Dulkoski, a 1973 Papillion-La Vista High School graduate, had a "genuine love for and commitment to the Papillion community," said his mother, Lorene Dulkoski.
Michael Dulkoski passed away in 2001, and since that time his family has been organizing an annual golf tournament, with the proceeds benefiting various charitable organizations in Sarpy County. Michael Dulkoski's wife, Theresa, said that the Papillion Community Foundation was chosen as the beneficiary this year "because of the good works performed by the Foundation in the Papillion area."
The foundation will use the memorial gift to benefit local human services organizations and programs.
The 2012 Michael Dulkoski Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Aug. 25 at Tregaron Golf Course. For more information on the tournament, contact dukesgirls@cox.net or the Papillion Community Foundation, www.papillionfoundation.org, 402-331-3917.
