The following are fundraisers, donations and other charitable events or opportunities happening in the Midlands. Email your information about good deeds to connect@owh.com or call 402-444-1040.
Family Flicks: Aksarben Cinema has brought back its Free Family Flicks. Families can enjoy a movie with the donation of a canned good/nonperishable item or $1 donation per person on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. All donations will benefit Together Inc. Doors open approximately 30 minutes in advance, and seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The Free Family Flicks schedule for February: 4-5, "Zookeeper"; 11-12, "Spy Kids 4"; 18-19, "Mr. Popper's Penguins"; and 25-26, "Kung Fu Panda 2."
Heart disease awareness: Burlington Coat Factory has joined forces with the Foundation for National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's the Heart Truth campaign dedicated to raising awareness of heart disease among women. Burlington Coat Factory, 12303 West Center Road in Omaha, will feature a special section dedicated to red dresses from Monday through Easter. For every women's and girl's dress sold, Burlington will donate $1 to the foundation, up to $25,000, to support the Heart Truth campaign and women's heart health research and education. Omaha-area Burlington shoppers can also donate a dollar or more by purchasing a paper red dress icon in stores through April 8. Funds collected will support local community women's heart health grants, allocated to agencies in communities surrounding Burlington locations.
Poker tournament: The Alpha Phi sorority at the University of Nebraska at Kearney is hosting the 7th annual Red Dress Poker Tournament on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Health and Sports Center. Proceeds are going to the Alpha Phi Foundation, which supports women's cardiac care. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $12, or at the door for $15. A booth will be set up to sell tickets in the Nebraskan Student Union through Wednesday.
Bicycle movie benefit: "Bicycle Dreams," the award-winning film about the Race Across America, will be shown at Aksarben Cinema on Thursday at 7 p.m. The film screening will benefit the Omaha Pedalers Bicycle Club and the Bellevue Bicycle Club as well as raise money for the Bicycle Lance Project.
Valentine's fundraiser: Sophisticated Hearts of Omaha is sponsoring a special Valentine's evening affair on Friday at Regency Lodge, 909 S. 107th Ave., from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The event features live music, a fashion show, hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, cash bar, dancing, raffles and door prizes. Tickets, $20, and proceeds from the event will benefit Youth Emergency Services and Meals on Wheels. For more information, call 402-933-5346.
Little Giants event: A fundraiser for Emily Koesters and the Little Giants Foundation will take place Saturday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Sarpy Country Fairgrounds in Springfield. The event will include dinner, music, entertainment, silent auction and raffle. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For advance tickets, email jeek01@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.helpemily.com.
Rebuild brick by brick: The Nebraskaland Days Foundation has launched a campaign to raise money to rebuild the west entrance of the Wild West Arena in North Platte, Neb., by selling bricks to fill the area underneath a new entry pavilion. Bricks can be ordered through the website, www.nebraskalanddays.com. Forms can also be picked up at the Nebraskaland Days office, 509 E. Fourth St., Suite G, in North Platte.
Rent-A-Car Donation: Body shops in Nebraska can help repair more than cars, with assistance from Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Enterprise is giving 15 collision repair facilities in four states the opportunity to win a donation of $1,000 to the local charity of their choice. The program is available to body shops in parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois and Iowa. For every rental referral generated in February and March, each shop will be given a ballot for a chance to be designated a "Hometown Hero" and win a $1,000 charitable donation. For more information, contact a local Enterprise Rent-A-Car location.
Compiled by Valerie Novotny
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