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Celebrating childhood through special events
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Child Saving Institute's (CSI) Guild raised a record-setting $130,010 during its annual PurseOnalities luncheon, held Oct. 19 at the Hilton Omaha
Event Chairs Mikayla Lee, Emily Dugger, Carissa Schrager, and Stacey Patterson selected the theme, "New York, New York," to honor New York native Laura Schroff, keynote speaker and author of the New York Times bestseller "An Invisible Thread." (Photo above: Mikayla Lee, Emily Dugger, Julie Shaner, Laura Schroff, Carissa Schrager, and Stacey Patterson.)
Laura shared her personal story about her unusual friendship with a homeless 11-year-old boy who was panhandling on the streets of New York City. Through their friendship, both their lives were transformed. (Photo at right: Susan Haddix and Laura Schroff.)
Susan Haddix served as Honorary Chair. She has been involved in children’s issues for most of her adult life and provided cradle care to infants in foster care through Child Saving Institute (CSI) for 20 years.
While providing cradle care, Susan often wondered about the older children who became state wards. When she learned that these children could be adopted, she became a strong advocate for finding Forever Families for them. To that end, Susan played an instrumental role in developing the Nebraska Heart Gallery, a traveling photo gallery that highlights some of these children by sharing their autobiographies and what they want in their forever families. The Heart Gallery moved online just a few years later and became NebraskaHeartGallery.org.
Susan has volunteered with CSI for more than 22 years and has been a part of the Guild. She currently serves on the Board of Directors and also serves on the Foster Care Review Board, the Probation Review Board, and six additional community boards.
The event included a silent auction of fabulous purse packages and a raffle for an amazing Judith Lieber clutch vauled at $1,995, donated by Borsheim's. Name Name won the prize.
Proceeds from the event will help CSI's kids through the agency's 14 services and programs.
Honored Chair: Sue Haddix
Event Chairs: Emily Dugger, Micayla Lee, Stacey Patterson, and Carissa Schrager
Keynote Speaker: Laura Schroff
Laura Schroff is an international and No. 1 bestselling author and keynote speaker. Since the launch of her books "An Invisible Thread," "An Invisible Thread Christmas Story," and "Angels on Earth," Laura has become a passionate and compelling voice on the power of acts of kindness and human connections. Laura is a former advertising executive, who worked with major media companies, including Time Inc. and Condé Nast, was part of the USA Today advertising launch team, and worked at Ms. magazine. Born and raised on Long Island, Laura lives in Westchester with her sweet poodle Emma.