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Last year's Bravo gala.

Grand Gala Get ready for what's arguably the best party of the year. Bravo Greater Des Moines' annual gala, Feb. 4 at Hy-Vee Hall downtown, attracts the well-dressed, the well-heeled, and those who just want to have fun and support the arts in the process. Cocktails begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and then dancing to the always-popular Ken Arlen Orchestra. At the gala, Bravo will honor Bill Knapp for his contributions to the arts and cultural community. The event also will spotlight local arts organizations; Gateway Dance Theater, Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble, and a pianist from the Des Moines Symphony Academy will perform. Some 1,000 people attended the 2011 gala, and with ticket sales ahead of last year's, an even bigger crowd is anticipated for this year's soiree, says Kendra Daly, event director. Tickets are $250 per person, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from $1,500 to $25,000. Proceeds help offset Bravo's administrative costs so revenue raised through the hotel/motel tax can go directly to metro-area arts and cultural groups, notes MD Isley, Bravo's executive director. In 2011, Bravo awarded 53 grants totaling $2.4 million to local groups. This year's co-chairs are Jim Israel of John Deere Financial and Paul E. Schickler of Pioneer Hi-Bred. To purchase tickets or for more information, go to bravogreaterdesmoines.org or contact Kendra Daly at 537-2001 or Kendra@bravogreaterdesmoines.org.

Sharon and Kyle Krause at last Thursday's United Way event.

Record-Setting Campaign In case you missed United Way of Central Iowa’s big announcement last week, the organization raised a record $25.1 million in 2011, $600,000 more than goal, $1 million more than 2010 and the highest total in United Way’s 94-year history. The record “speaks to the amazing generosity of our community,” especially given the tough economy, campaign chair Steve Lacy said at last Thursday’s gathering for volunteers at Meredith Corp.’s headquarters. No doubt that’s true, but Liz Cotter Schlax, United Way’s senior vice president of resource development, told the assembled crowd that there’s another reason for the record: “Steve Lacy always gets his number.” She credited Lacy, Meredith's chairman and CEO, with bumping the initial goal up by $200,000 at the beginning of the campaign and aggressively keeping everyone on track to achieve and then exceed that goal. “Steve is way into the details,” Schlax said. “He made us stronger and better.” Sharon and Kyle Krause also were recognized at the event for their efforts in boosting the membership of United Way’s Tocqueville Society, whose members donate at least $10,000 annually. Under the Krauses’ direction, the group added 36 new members in 2011, bringing total membership to more than 300. Other numbers tossed out during the presentation wowed the crowd as well: 40,000 Central Iowans, including 5,000 first-time donors, contributed to the campaign; employees at five of the metro area’s biggest employers gave $1 million or more; and 600 members of the Women’s Leadership Connection gave $1,000 or more. Dan Houston will chair the 2012 campaign. Houston, the 2011 campaign co-chair, is president of retirement, insurance and financial services for the Principal Financial Group. Co-chair will be Aviva USA CEO Chris Littlefield. unitedwaydm.org

Shattering Silence by local artist James Ellwanger.

WHAT TO DO Download a New Art App Take a self-guided tour of the metro area's public art displays with a new app the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation (GDMPAF) released last week. The free app, called "DSM Public Art," lets you search a visual library organized by artist, title and location. Then you just follow the Google maps and GPS tracking to find your chosen works. You can see images of the art, learn about the works and link to more information about the artists. M. Jessica Rowe, GDMPAF director, said an anonymous donor provided funds for the project, which has been in development for nearly a year. "This app project nurtures a sense of citizen ownership and pride in our public art collection," Rowe said in a statement. Click here to download the app.

Sally Helgesen

Attend Chrysalis Foundation will kick off its 2012 "Chrysalis Conversations" series Feb. 23, when Sally Helgesen, an internationally recognized expert on women's leadership, speaks on "Tapping the Power of the Female Vision." The series also will feature Margaret Wheatley, a global authority on organizational behavior, who will speak on "The Future of the World Depends on Women" April 18; and Jan Freed, a professor of business management at Central College and CEO of a leadership development firm, who will give a talk entitled "In Search of Leadership Wisdom" May 24. Tickets are $35 for each keynote speech or $75 for the talk and "continued conversations" with the presenter. All will be held at the State Historical Building beginning at 5:30 p.m. chrysalisfdn.org

United Way of Central Iowa's "Live United" event at Prairie Meadows last year.

Nominate United Way of Central Iowa is seeking nominations for its annual "Live United Recognition." The award honors individuals and organizations who give, advocate and volunteer to build a stronger community. The application deadline is Jan. 24, and honorees will be announced at a luncheon April 23 at Prairie Meadows. More information: unitedwaydm.org.

Volunteer Community! Youth Concepts is looking for volunteers to serve as mentors. Mentors are matched with 12- to17-year-old youths interested in learning more about the mentor's career. For more information, contact Michelle Raymer at 243-4292 or michelle@cyconcepts.org or visit cyconcepts.org/map. SAVE (Soldiers Artistic Vision Exhibition), a new project spearheaded by AmeriCorps VISTA worker Katie Pypes that will benefit Central Iowa Shelter & Services, is seeking volunteers, especially artists and veterans. SAVE involves pairing homeless veterans, or veterans who've been homeless in the past, with local artists. Through workshops with the artists, the veterans create works that explore and illustrate their stories. After the art pieces are completed, the goal is to show and sell the works at galleries and other venues, which Pypes says would serve a two-fold purpose: increase awareness of homelessness among veterans and provide an annual fund-raising tool for Central Iowa Shelter & Services. She adds that SAVE also is looking for donations of art supplies. To volunteer or for more information, contact Pypes at kpypes@gmail.com or (319) 594-1302.

Apply The Greater Des Moines Partnership, Center on Sustainable Communities, Des Moines Water Works and Metro Waste Authority are seeking applications for the Environmental Impact Awards, which will honor local individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations that have implemented sustainability practices. Application deadline is March 23. Winners will be announced April 16 and recognized at a luncheon May 16. For more information, contact the Greater Des Moines Partnership, 286-4950.

WHAT TO KNOW Joint Campaign The Polk County Housing Trust Fund (PCHTF) is partnering with five organizations that provide affordable housing and related services to launch a joint fund-raising campaign. PCHTF, along with Anawim Housing, Community Housing Initiatives, Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, Hawthorn Hill and HOME Inc., will kick off the 2012 "Combined Campaign" Feb. 1. pchtf.org

Employment Opportunities The ALS Association, Iowa Chapter seeks a full-time development manager. For more information, contact Jason Lee at jason.lee@alsaiowa.org or 727-1677. alsaiowa.org Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation seeks a director of development and donor relations. Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Carol Pollock, executive director, at Pollock@hoytsherman.org; or mail to Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines, 50309. hoytsherman.org

Children at a Civic Center educational program.

Grants Through the Willis Lexus Drive for Kids, every dollar donated to support the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines' education programs will be matched by Willis Lexus. The funding enables local students to be admitted to "Applause!" performances for $1 each, when the actual per-student cost is more than $6. It also supports Broadway workshops, master classes, residency programs and school partnerships. The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines has awarded a $25,000 grant to the Iowa National Bar Association to support "A Monumental Journey," a public art project that will be part of the Principal Riverwalk. The work will celebrate civil rights, justice, free speech and diversity in our community. desmoinesfoundation.org Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) recently received a $10,000 grant from the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation for LSI's HOPES (Healthy Opportunities for Parents to Experience Success) early childhood program, a voluntary in-home visitation program for families with young children. In fiscal year 2011, LSI made more than 500 home visits to Polk County families. LSIowa.org Chrysalis Foundation has awarded $60,000 to 10 local organizations serving women and girls: Bernie Lorenz Recovery Center, Children and Family Urban Ministries, Dress for Success Des Moines Chapter, FreeStore, Hawthorne Hill/New Directions Shelter, Iowa Homeless Youth Center, L.U.N.A. (Latinas Unidas por un Nuevo Amanecer), Youth Emergency Services and Shelter, Young Women's Resource Center, and We Learn Independence for Tomorrow. HCI Care Services has received a $5,000 grant from Pioneer Hi-Bred. The money will be used for the organization's bereavement program. Central Iowa Shelter & Services has received a $25,000 grant from The Walmart Foundation for its Community Kitchen program. The program provides food for the shelter and for six additional meal sites in the metro area. These meal sites are located in economically distressed neighborhoods and reach extremely low-income and homeless families. All meals are provided free of charge to participating families.

People Dennis Parmenter has joined the board of directors of The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa. Parmenter, of Cambridge, is a former state representative and former mayor of Huxley, where he currently practices law. Deanna Yount and Crystal Abbe have joined Iowa Dance Theatre's board of directors.

Backpack Buddies The Urbandale Community Action Network (UCAN) has announced two new partnerships for its Backpack Buddy program. Meredith Drive Reformed Church is working with Jensen Elementary, and Dice, Inc., with Rolling Green Elementary. The organizations prepare a weekend supply of food in backpacks for chronically hungry elementary students in Urbandale. A $2,000 donation from the Rotary Club of N.W. Des Moines and funds from the Polk County Community Betterment Grant have been used to support the program in four Urbandale elementary schools. urbandalenetwork.org

Don't Forget! Want party pictures from your organization's event in dsm's rsvp section? The details on how to do that, including deadlines, are on our website, dsmMagazine.com. Follow the instructions there and we'll do the rest. Email us at dsmeditor@bpcdm.com with innovative ideas you've implemented, board and staff appointments, capital campaigns, events and other news (plus photos and links to your videos!). The deadline for the next issue is Feb. 5. Get the word out about your upcoming event by listing it on our community calendar. Go to dsmMagazine.com, click on "calendar" and then "add event" and follow the instructions.

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