MEDIA RELEASE

Press Release
November 19, 2009

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

Lutheran Family Services raises $55,000 at Wicker & Wine Boutique Basket Auction

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS) raised $55,000 at its annual Wicker & Wine Boutique Basket Auction to raise funds for the Pottawattamie County Building Families Boutique, a prevention/early intervention program assisting parents of prenatal and young children to participate in healthy behaviors.  The Boutique, located in Council Bluffs, serves families in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.  The fundraiser was Thursday, Nov. 5, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the atrium of the Omni Centre in Council Bluffs. Over 300 guests were in attendance.

Tracy Madden and Nadia Singh of WOWT served as emcees, and the event featured wine and beverages, hors d’oeuvres, and live and silent auctions.  Catering was provided by Erin Court Catering.  Over 50 themed baskets were up for auction.  The live auction included 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; a personal, behind-the-scenes tour of the Henry Doorly Zoo; premier golf packages and many more.

The Chardonnay level sponsors were Home Instead Senior Care and Leona and Bill Kernen.  Other top sponsors included 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 were Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan and WOWT Co-Anchor Tracy Madden, and the event chairs were Pat and Jennifer Hensley of Council Bluffs.  Additional committee members were 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.

View photos from this year's Wicker & Wine Boutique Basket Auction!

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.