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Willie Barney, Sherie Peterson, Capt. Dustin Guzman, Firefighters Jim McNew, Matthew Bowes, and Adam Boswell, Mason Umphreys, Bruce Moore, Laura Hickman, Rod Umphreys, and Vyzion Gonzalez-Franklin (front).
Chef Art Smith’s Cooking Demo. Photo by Rodney Green, Green Room Studios.
Celebrity Chef Fundraiser
13th Annual Heroes in the Heartland
Courtesy of Food Bank for the Heartland
Courtesy of American Red Cross, Nebraska/SW Iowa
T
he Nebraska/SW Iowa Region of the American Red Cross raised nearly $200,000 at its 13th Annual Heroes in the Heartland at Embassy Suites La Vista in March. More than 600 people attended the event, including Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing and Omaha City Councilwoman Jean Stothert. This year’s honored “Heroes” included Willie Barney, Sherie Peterson, Captain Dustin Guzman, Jim McNew, Matthew Bowes, Adam Boswell, Rod and Mason Umphreys, Bruce Moore, Laura Hickman, Vyzion Gonzalez-Franklin, and Lily Dotson. Honorary Chairs were Sandy and Dave Parker, and Event Chair was Julie Mowat.
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ward-winning chef Art Smith entertained more than 750 guests at Food Bank for the Heartland’s Celebrity Chef Fundraiser in March at Embassy Suites La Vista. Smith, restaurateur and former personal chef for Oprah Winfrey who competed on Top Chef Masters, showcased his talents during the evening’s culinary presentation. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation served as honorary chair, Michelle Harrington Scott served as event chair, and Shari Stone of KGBI emceed. The event raised $220,000 for Food Bank for the Heartland.
Wendy Larson Cooper, Mary Beth Quinn Weber, Catherine Demes Maydew, and Sharon McGill. Photo by Mark Weber.
John Jenkins, Carrie Jenkins, Ted Walz, Trish Walz, Amy Schmid, Jeff Schmid, Amy Farha-Neary, Bryan Neary, and John Griffith. Photo by Kiley Kiser.
Decades of Dance
Irish Fest 2013
Courtesy of Omaha Academy of Ballet
Courtesy of Catholic Charities
C
atholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha held its annual benefit gala at CenturyLink Center Omaha in March. This year’s theme was “Shamrock On!” celebrating traditional Irish spirit with a rock n’ roll twist. Nearly 680 attendees enjoyed silent and oral auctions, performances by Omaha Pipes and Drums and the Craoi na Tire Irish Dancers, and live music from The Finest Hour. John Knicely was the master of ceremonies for the event, which raised more than $450,000. Honorary chairs were Amy and Jeff Schmid, and event chairs were Amy and Bryan Neary, Carrie and John Jenkins, and Trish and Ted Walz.
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ore than 110 alumni and friends gathered to celebrate Omaha Ballet Academy’s 50th Anniversary event “Decades of Dance: A Tribute to the Omaha Academy of Ballet” in March. The event raised more than $19,000 for the Omaha Dance Project, a branch of the Academy that provides performing opportunities for community dancers. OAB celebrated the finale of its celebration by announcing the Wendy Larson and Sharon McGill Scholarship in honor of two legacy ballerinas. Both were teachers at the Academy and principal dancers with the original Omaha Ballet Company.
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