MEDIA RELEASE

Press Release
October 19, 2009

Contact: Jane Simpson, Director of Public Relations
402-978-5646

Lutheran Family Services hosts Wicker & Wine Boutique Basket Auction

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS) is holding its annual Wicker & Wine Boutique Basket Auction to raise funds for the Building Families Boutique, a prevention/early intervention program assisting parents of prenatal and young children to participate in healthy behaviors. The Boutique is located in Council Bluffs and serves families in Pottawattamie County. The fundraiser will be Thursday, Nov. 5, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the atrium of the Omni Centre, 300 W. Broadway in Council Bluffs. Free parking is available in the Omni Centre garage.

Tracy Madden and Malorie Maddox of WOWT are serving as emcees, and the event will feature wine and beverages, hors d’oeuvres, and live and silent auctions. Approximately 50 themed baskets developed for women, men, couples and families will be up for auction. The live auction includes a suite for 12 including food/beverages for the Creighton vs. Nebraska basketball game on Dec. 6, a two-night, three-day stay in California while touring Napa Valley vineyards; a one-of-a-kind pendant necklace handcrafted by Mark Shepard of M. Shepard Designs; an 8GB iPod touch, premier golf packages and many more.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. To reserve tickets call (712) 242-1040 or visit www.lfsneb.org. Tickets are also available at the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce office.

The premier sponsors are Home Instead Senior Care and Leona and Bill Kernen. Other top sponsors include Bank of the West, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Hy-Vee Food Stores, Pepsi Bottling Group, Ameristar, M. Shepard Designs, Rasmussen Mechanical, Bloom Works Floral, Erickson Sederstrom, Omni Centre and The Daily Nonpareil.

The honorary chairs are Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan and WOWT Co-Anchor Tracy Madden, and the event chairs are Pat and Jennifer Hensley of Council Bluffs. Additional committee members are Bruce and Joni Rasmussen, Cindy Nieves, Susan Enewold, Alicia Roth, Mark McGee and Bob Mundt.

The Building Families Boutique is located at 300 W. Broadway, Suite 7, in Council Bluffs. Through parent education and support, this incentive-based program engages parents and children in healthy activities. By participating in these activities, parents earn points for new and gently-used infant and toddler items at no cost. Other services include Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), maternal depression screening, parenting and family life education programs, pregnancy and adoption counseling and early childhood mental health services. For more information on the Boutique, call (712) 242-1040.

About Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska:
Thousands of families of all faiths are served through LFS programs and services that include counseling, addiction treatment, trauma and PTSD treatment, refugee and immigrant services, children’s behavior health services, foster care, adoption, prevention/early intervention, early childhood development, pregnancy counseling and maternal health services. Learn more about LFS at www.lfsneb.org or call 402-342-7038.