2017 Heartland Family Service ‘Carnival of Love’ Gala Raises Record $315K for Families

About 600 guests came to revel in Rio for the Heartland Family Service “Carnival of Love” Gala (heartlandfamilyservice.org) at the Embassy Suites-La Vista on Saturday, Feb. 11, helping to raise a record $315,023 to serve the most vulnerable children and families in our community. The new record shattered not this year’s goal of $285,000 but also the previous record of $264,000 set last year.

Guests were transported to the famous Rio Carnival with masks, feathers, beautiful floral centerpieces, plank signs pointing the way to libations, and several casino games. Latin ballroom dancers provided entertainment during dinner.

During the program, Heartland Family Service President and CEO John Jeanetta gave an overview of the agency, and Friends Guild President Melissa Steffes recognized Gala chairs Julie Gibson-Beier and JoAnn Gould and honorary chairs Joe and Kacey Lempka. The evening ended with a rowdy live auction and guest speaker Flora Shukis, an 89-year-old senior who has attended the Heartland Family Service Generations Center for 10 years.

As Heartland Family Service’s largest fundraiser of the year, the “Carnival of Love” Gala helps create the path to a better tomorrow for the over 30,000 individuals the agency serves each year from more than 15 locations in eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa.