COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (October 29, 2015) – Children living in Pottawattamie County – birth to age five – will be the beneficiaries of the upcoming “Wicker & Wine®” event, an auction and cocktail reception celebrating 10 years of service through the Lutheran Family Services’ (LFS) Pottawattamie County Center for Healthy Families®.
Former Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan will serve as emcee for the 2015 event, which will be held at the Mid-America Center on Thursday, November 5 and runs from 5-7:30 p.m. This year’s fundraiser features an expanded, three-part live auction, with the first segment beginning at 5:45 p.m. There will also be larger wish list table that will raise money to support early childhood essentials; a new, exciting raffle and an inspiring program honoring a family served at the Center.
Susan Pawloski, MSW, MPA, program coordinator for the Center, will be presented with the LFS Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her 15 years of service and commitment to the families of Pottawattamie County.
Event chairs of the 2015 event are Matt and Lisa Gronstal, Pat and Jennifer Hensley, Bruce and Joni Rasmussen, Richard and Connie Vogelzang, and Tyler and Sarah Willson.
The Pottawattamie County Center for Healthy Families® serves hundreds of preschool children, babies, pregnant women and their families every year. The Center provides early intervention and prevention programs to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect. In addition to the highly regarded incentive program, the Center offers parenting classes and early childhood mental health therapies, including support for children who have witnessed or experienced trauma. In addition, the Center provides RSafe® treatment and therapies for children and families in Pottawattamie County impacted by child sexual abuse.
In 2014, the Pottawattamie County Center for Healthy Families® served:
- 291 families (68.3% with an annual income below $20,000)
- 343 children ages 5 and under
- 51 unborn babies and their parents
Registrations for the Wicker & Wine® event are $50 and available at www.lfsneb.org. The event is Thursday, November 5 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs.
For more information on the event, please contact Cheryl Murray at cmurray@LFSneb.org or (402) 661-3138.
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