LADS Valentine's Dance, auction raises more than $30,000

Calling the evening a total success, Le Mars Area Dialysis Services board chair Kirk Klohs announced the Second Annual Valentine's Day Dance raised a total of $30,036 for the development of a dialysis center in Le Mars.

Approximately 330 people attended the Feb. 14, event at the Le Mars Convention Center. Top ticket sellers were Charlotte Meyer and Nubs Gotto.

Klohs noted everyone had a good time, whether dancing, visiting, or bidding on auction items.

"The most important thing to remember about the evening is that it brought everyone together for a very important cause, which is to bring dialysis services to our community," Klohs said.

LADS board member Randy Reardon said many local businesses as well as businesses from the surrounding communities donated items for the auction.

This year's live and silent auction raised $7,845. Included in that amount is $1,100 which was given to LADS when the winner of the door prize, a 42" HDTV, Ron Kunkel of Le Mars, donated the TV back to LADS to be auctioned off.

Klohs announced the board is very optimistic that those needing dialysis will not have to drive next winter in the cold weather to receive their dialysis treatments out of town. It is hoped the center will be up and running before next winter.

With the proceeds from the dance and some very important donations, Klohs reported that the total raised to date for the dialysis center is $705,609.

It was also announced during the evening that a local organization, the Side by Side Foundation, has issued a matching challenge of $100,000.

LADS fundraiser chair Don Law explained that means donations given to LADS from this point on, up to $100,000, will be matched.

The dialysis center will be located in the former Wells' Dairy research and development site at the corner of Central Avenue and First Street Southeast. Wells' Dairy officials made the building donation official in June 2008.

To make a donation or learn more about Le Mars Area Dialysis Services contact a board member (Kirk Klohs - 546-9550, James George - 546-4704, Karen Dreckman - 546-4569, Randy Reardon - 546-5531, Steve Ohm - 546-5117, Mike Donlin - 546-3492 or Don Law - 546-6510), or mail donations to Le Mars Area Dialysis Services, P.O. Box 10, Le Mars, IA 51031.