Gehlen Ball sure to be 'a Grande Gala'

Food, special presentations, and auction and live music highlight the evening which raises money for education of students at Gehlen Catholic Schools.

"All the funds raised go to the classrooms. The one place this money is never spent is on administration," said Gehlen's Director of Development Lisa Niebuhr.

"The money goes to purchase supplies and technology in the classroom. Every child from transitional kindergarten to twelfth grade is impacted," she added.

Upon arrival, guests will be greeted with outdoor entertainment by Gehlen Catholic's award-winning Jazz I Band. The band most recently took part in the Iowa Jazz Championships in Des Moines.

During the event, Gehlen senior Keith Klein will speak on his experience at Gehlen. Klein is one of many students who commutes to the Le Mars school, having transferred to Gehlen from Hospers during his high school years. He just returned from the Mission Honduras trip.

He will share the impact of what transferring as a high school student has done in his life and share his appreciation of the experience.

The dinner features stuffed chicken parmesan breasts and chef carved Angus beef. Topping off the meal will be dessert four flavors of cheesecake.

Niebuhr noted this year Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits offers the purchase of a bottle of wine to accompany the dinner, featuring two cabernets, a chardonnay and a dessert wine.

Auction items this year, on display in the window of Perkins Office Solutions, are:

* 42" Class widescreen Viera Plasma TV 1080p HDTV with new anti-reflective filter, deep color technology, game mode, built-in SD card slot, 3 HDMI inputs and Viera Link HDAVI control, valued at $1,299.95, donated by Jeremy and Jackie, Ryan and Stacy.

* Pedicure, manicure and massage, valued at $100, from Head to Toe Studio.

* Year of family hair care -- two colors and nine cuts for mom and 18 cuts for the family with all services by Alesha, valued at $560, from Head to Toe Studio and Alesha Mohning.

* Autographed basketball from the 2008-2009 Creighton men's basketball Team (including Gehlen's own Dustin Sitzmann, '04), from Mark Condon, Condon Auto, Sioux City.

* Special Evening with Friends (Prime Rib Dinner and wine for 8) by Dave and Patti Hill.

* A 4-night stay in Dave and Mary Kay Hoffman's and Ron and Sylvia Fischer's cabin 30 minutes south of Deadwood, S.D., in the heart of the Black Hills.

* A week at the Grand Crowne resort for 13 in three adjacent units overlooking the golf course in Branson, Mo. donated by Jim ('60) and Mary Jo Peters.

* A 2' x 2' carving of a cabin scene featuring a rustic cabin, outhouse, and evergreens, valued at $500, by Ruhland Nurseries.

* Le Mars Postal Playhouse 2010 season membership.

* "Naughty boy" dressed in Gehlen attire, donated by Bob and Ruth Kneip.

* Original 26" x 38" oil painting of St. Joseph Church, rectory, and the old St. Joseph School by Speltz Studio

Two items have been added to the list. They are:

* Dinner for six with Bishop Walker Nickless in your home, featuring a catered dinner for the purchaser.

"This is a great opportunity to visit with Bishop Nickless in Le Mars and get to know him and ask questions," Niebuhr said.

* Bears/Packers Christmas Vacation Package. This includes lodging at the Embassy Suites on the lakefront in Chicago for Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11 and 12. Located two blocks off the Magnificent Mile for great shopping before Christmas. Four complimentary tickets to see the Bears and Packers play at Soldier Field Sunday, Dec. 13, and hats for the guys. Patrick Hodgson ('85) donated this prize.

Also new this year is the band Power Play, which will be featured in the lower level of the Le Mars Convention Center for dancing music for the younger crowd.

Music by Magic Moments by Patrick Shearon ('64) will be playing requests and crowd favorites in the upper level.

"Dancing on both levels sets the Gehlen Ball apart from a lot of other galas and events," Niebuhr said.

Chairing this year's Friends of Gehlen Ball are Jeremy ('94) and Jackie (Kellen, '95) Sitzmann and Ryan ('89) and Stacy (Kneip, '90) Wiltgen.

A $75 donation will include two complimentary tickets for the evening's events. To obtain tickets, call the school office at 546-4181.