Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.More than 550 people attended Congé, Omaha Duchesne's annual auction and dinner, at the Ramada Plaza convention center on Jan. 28.
The event raised more than $350,000 for the school.
Duchesne parents Ann Marie and Chris Abboud, Amy and Todd Foje and Ann and Kurt Tjaden were co-chairmen for the event.
This year's theme, "There's No Place Like Home," celebrated the 130-year-old academy building at 36th and Burt Streets.
The Duchesne parents and decorations team of Wes and Jeanette Nelson, Amy Carmody and Diane Fulcher created a 10-foot-tall painted replica of the facade of Duchesne. The stage was decorated with an arch similar to the actual structure on the campus, with large trees lit with white lights in the background. Centerpieces with statues of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne embedded in an arrangement of red roses and greenery adorned every table.
Student volunteers — some wearing ruby-red slippers with their school uniforms in keeping with the theme — greeted guests, sold raffle and lottery tickets, and thanked guests for their participation.
The Duchesne Swing Choir performed "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," as well as the traditional French school song "Coeur de Jesus." Tom Haggas, with Cheshire Moon Films, presented a video featuring the traditions at Duchesne and their impact on the students.
"Congé is an important fund-raising activity for the school, but it is also a tremendous community-building tradition," said Head of School Sheila Haggas. "Congé brings together alumnae, donors, parents and friends of Duchesne who want to contribute to the future of Sacred Heart education for students of today and the future."
High bids during the live auction included a vacation to Belize; a weeklong vacation to the Four Seasons in Scottsdale, Ariz.; and a chance to name the famous Circle Drive at Duchesne.
Plans are already under way for Congé 2013, to be held on Jan. 26. Co-chairmen for that event will be Duchesne parents Tracy and Ted Bridges, Denise and Tate Fitzgerald, and Toody and Kody Moffatt.
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The opening celebration of "Drawn to Fashion: The Illustrations of Mary Mitchell" on Jan. 27 drew more than 200 people to the Durham Museum.
The event began with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres served in the Trish and Dick Davidson Gallery. Guests enjoyed a musical performance by Anne Marie Kenny, followed by a ribbon-cutting and a tour of the exhibition.
"Drawn to Fashion," which will be on exhibit at the Durham through May 27, celebrates the lost art of fashion illustration, Omaha's rich retail history and advertising before Photoshop. The exhibition showcases 150 drawings taken from Mitchell's private collection.
During the 1960s, '70s and '80s, Mitchell worked for such well-known Omaha clothiers as Topp's, Goldstein Chapman, Herzbergs, Zoobs and many others. In addition to illustrations, the display includes period clothing and other artifacts on loan from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Textile, Clothing and Design Collection.
A special video presentation narrated by Alexander Payne is another highlight of the exhibition.
During the festivities, guests were able to purchase the book "Drawn to Fashion: Illustrating Three Decades of Style," written in conjunction with the exhibition, as well as copies of several of Mitchell's illustrations.
Proceeds will benefit the Mary Mitchell Fashion Illustration Scholarship Fund at the textile, clothing and design department at UNL.
The book will continue to be available at the Durham Museum's gift shop or by calling 402-444-5071, ext. 316. For more information, go to www.drawntofashion.com.
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The Clarkson Service League held its annual meeting Jan. 18 at the Nebraska Medical Center.
The organization's president, Kim Reeves, gave closing remarks on the success of the past year. Santa's Preview and the Clarkson Gift Shop raised more than $200,000.
Reeves and her fundraising chairwomen presented a check for $120,000 to Cindy Owen, vice president of corporate affairs for the Nebraska Medical Center, and to Dr. Lou Burgher, president of Clarkson College.
A portion of the donation completes a three-year pledge of $200,000 to Clarkson College for the construction of a new library on campus. The remainder of the donation goes toward an ongoing five-year pledge of $500,000 to the James Canedy Scholarship program at the Nebraska Medical Center.
Reeves presented gifts to her fundraising chairwomen, Kara Bachman, Sarah Beutler, Mary Derr, Lynne Holdenreid, Marianne Holland, Carmen Jensen, Patty Landen and Lisa Sekundiak.
Five members of the Clarkson Service League were honored as emeritus members for 2012: Janis Enenbach, Rhonda Guy, Kayla Howard, Paula Howard, Sue Muesey and Tammi Monson. Each has contributed at least 15 years of service to the organization.
The incoming executive board members for 2012 are Karen Nelsen, president; Kara Bachman, president-elect; Brady Gibson, vice president; Lisa Russell, treasurer; Julie Horgan Wurth and Kim Banat, secretaries; and Reeves, adviser.
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"Carnival of Love" will be the theme of the Heartland Family Service Friends Guild's 2012 annual gala.
The Feb. 18 fundraiser will be held at the Embassy Suites La Vista. beginning at 6 p.m. Valet parking, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, carnival games, live and silent auctions and dinner are planned. Co-chairwomen for the gala are Karen Burkley and Cindy Hanley. Honorary chairmen are Kathy and Tom Martin. Mary Zlomke is president of the Heartland Family Service Friends Guild.
Tickets are $125 per person.
For more information about the Carnival or Heartland Family Service, or to become a member of the Friends Guild, call Caryn Ficco at 402-552-7424.
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