The 2009 Children's Hospital & Medical Center Gala filled the Grand Ballroom of the Qwest Center Omaha last Saturday night.
The Beatles-themed gala, “Here Comes the Sun,” took 740 guests back to the days of Ed Sullivan. Round, wire-rimmed eyeglasses served as napkin holders; sun rays and ribbons beamed from spherical flower displays in the table centerpieces.
The Fab Four, a Beatles tribute band, provided lively entertainment, while live and silent auctions gave attendees the chance to bid on travel packages, entertainment bundles and other specialty items.
The gala raised nearly $300,000 for the Children's Specialty Pediatric Center, under construction at 84th Street and West Dodge Road.
Jennifer Bettger and April Karstens served as event co-chairwomen. Bill and Sharon Griffin were honorary chairman and chairwoman.
The event is sponsored by the Children's Friends Board.
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Ties that bind to an Omaha school helped raise funds at an inaugural scholarship fundraiser. The South High Alumni Association held “Tie One On for Education” Sept. 25 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Thompson Alumni Center. The event drew 150 guests and raised $16,000, organizers said.
“Many of the students at South High School will be the first in their families to graduate from high school,” said Judi Koubsky, event chairwoman. “If we can provide them financial help, they can also be the first generation to graduate from college.
“With that in mind, this turned into a determined grass-roots effort designed to give those students what they need to succeed.”
The evening featured a dinner catered by Brandeis. It also included a wine tasting and silent and oral auctions of ties and other memorabilia. The items were signed and donated by movie stars, politicians, sports stars and other luminaries, including Omaha's own Warren Buffett.
World-Herald columnist Mike Kelly served as master of ceremonies; Scott Moore was auctioneer. Musical entertainment was provided by South High alumnus Jeff Koterba. Koterba was joined by Kelly in “Folsom Prison Blues,” a musical tribute to the event's underwriters, Jim and Shirley Young.
Judy Tesar was auction chairwoman. Honorary chairmen were Nebraska first lady Sally Ganem, Howard and Judy Shinkle, Rudy and Judy Tesar, Dave and Carol Van Metre, Steve and Cheryl Wild and Jim and Shirley Young.
“South High School entered into my youth during the early 1950s, watching my daddy, Mickey Sparano, coaching amidst the mud of ‘The Hole,' now the new beautiful Collin Field,” said Cheryl Wild, who attended South High School in the 1960s.
“What hope we feel in a fresh, thriving south Omaha renaissance. ... Let us continue to bring on the scholarship money and nourish the future generations.”
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Who will reign was the question on everyone's lips at an Ak-Sar-Ben coffee Oct. 1 at the Omaha Country Club. The annual event for all current and former Women's Ball Committee members shared details of tonight's Coronation Ball at the Qwest Center Omaha.
Attendees cast votes on who they thought would be crowned the 113th king and queen and viewed scrapbooks belonging to past WBC chairwomen.
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