"Stars at Night" Gala shatters records,
brings in $135,000 for abused and neglected girls
February 19, 2007

AUSTIN - A record-breaking $135,000 was raised for abused and neglected girls who are residents of the New Life Children's Center at Canyon Lake at the Eighth Annual Make a Difference gala.

The "Stars at Night" gala drew a sellout crowd of nearly 400 to Barton Creek Resort and Spa. The starry-night themed event featured silent and live auctions, along with dinner and dancing to music provided by Grammy award-winners Ray Benson and Asleep at The Wheel.

This year's special guest speaker was Yolanda, an early resident of New Life Children's Center. Now a mother of three and college graduate, she spoke passionately of how the sense of family she took from her years at New Life is reflected in her parenting today.

"I look at all of you here today, and I can say honestly that you are my family," Yolanda said as she addressed the audience "and that I love each and every one of you."

Honorary co-chairs Olga Campos, KVUE-TV News anchor, and Kevin Benz, News 8 Austin news director, led a spirited live auction. Featured in the auction were three round-trip vacation packages, including one to the exclusive Los Cabos resort Las Ventanas, autographed footballs from past and present A&M and UT players, and a winningest coaches' package featuring items donated by UT baseball coach Augie Garrido, Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden and Texas Tech basketball coach Bobby Knight.

In one of the most unexpected turns of the evening, a wide-screen television donated by Mesa Home Systems was sold and then resold for a grand total of $3,600 and finally donated to New Life for use by the residents. In total, the live auction raised more than $19,000 for New Life Children's Center.

Guests celebrated the rest of the evening by dancing to the classic country sounds of Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel.

"We cannot make a difference in the lives of the girls of New Life without the help of our incredibly generous sponsors," said Kurt Senske, chief executive officer of Lutheran Social Services, which owns and operates New Life.

Gold sponsors included Barton Creek Resort and Spa; George and Karen Casey; Jack Mountain Ranch/Betty and Hal Meyer; Harold and Wanda Jungman; Gregg and Debbie Knudten of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans; James and Jean Linderman; Kelley and Mike Manuppelli; Bunny and Jim Oliver; Printworks; Inc.; Claudette Pfennig-High; Robert and Mary Lou Riley; Bill and Lois Rankin and Charles Wendlandt

Silver sponsors were Concordia University at Austin; Dillon and Yudell; LLP; Carl and Dolores Doering; Penny and James Draeger; Nancy and Gerald Kurio; Russell and Michelle Eppright; Deb and Greg Hilton; Max and Marge Kretschmar; Leon and Janette Peterson; The Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest; Dr. and Mrs. Hubert L. Menn; Joel and Laurel Reed; David W. Reue; M.D.; OB/GYN; Dr. Kurt and Laurie Senske; Sam and Jo Ann Sipes; Triact Associates; Inc.; David Yarborough; and the Rev. Robert and Jean Greene.

Bronze sponsors were American Airlines; Austin American-Statesman; Gary and Alice Childress; Lester and Roxanne Frantzen; Joyce and Dick Moeller; Al and Caryl Reese; Mike and Debbie Smith and Southwest Airlines

New Life serves girls ages 11 to 17 who suffer from severe emotional and behavioral problems, mostly as a result of past abuse and neglect. New Life provides specialized care in a secure, structured environment where residents can receive therapy, attend school, enjoy recreational activities and are offered voluntary spiritual care.

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc., is the social service arm of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSS annually serves nearly 35,000 children, elderly and poor in Texas and Louisiana regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or age. Its ministry includes children's centers, therapeutic foster care, adoption, adult day care, health care and retirement centers, emergency assistance and disaster response.

Top