More than 250 guests attended Saturday night’s 11th annual From the Heart Gala dinner and auction in Rochelle, helping to raise over $40,000 for several local non-profit agencies.
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ROCHELLE — More than 250 guests attended Saturday night’s 11th annual From the Heart Gala dinner and auction in Rochelle, helping to raise over $40,000 for several local non-profit agencies.
The dinner-auction was held in the Stillman Room at the Hickory Grove Civic Center, featuring a prime rib dinner and a wide array of live and silent auction items. Cal Jacobs was the highest bidder on the Aaron Rodgers shadow box, along with Jeff Tilton taking home the Ha Ha Clinton-Dix signed jersey. Other live auction winners included Christian Rhoads with the Chicago Blackhawks Toews signed jersey and the Chicago Bears Singletary signed jersey, won by Matt Williams.
Raffle winner Hannah Burke won the trip to Puerto Vallarta and Tim Hayden won the sterling silver diamond necklace. Jennifer Dallas won a diamond heart pendant in the centerpiece drawing. Other winners included Russell Crull with the Yeti Cooler and Chuck Watkins winning Deanie Springmire’s quilt as well as the 70” smart TV.
The gala, which is held the first Saturday in February every year, drew a large crowd. The Rochelle Rotary Club presented Diane Wegener with the Paul Harris Fellowship award following a tribute to her husband, Joe, the emcee and auctioneer for the past 10 years.
“This year was our largest turnout ever,” said Dave Eckhardt, From the Heart President. “The tribute to Joe was terrific…he was such a huge part of our event.”
The Fellowship award, given on behalf of the Rotary Foundation, is one of the highest honors bestowed from the organization. Wegener joins over 950,000 members worldwide including Mother Theresa, Nelson, Mandela, and Pope John Paul II.
Three tables of Wegener’s family and close friends along with guests listened as Connie Dougherty, Hub City Senior Center Executive Director, shared Joe’s impact on the community.
“Diane, your husband Joe was a man of integrity, compassion and selfless love, a true pillar of our Rochelle community, and a cherished friend to all of us here at From the Heart. We can’t begin to show our gratitude for everything Joe did for us. To try and put a value on his positive impact is impossible,” Dougherty said. “They say behind every great man is a great woman, but you weren’t behind him, Diane, you were beside him.”
Eckhardt expressed gratitude to all of the organizers and people behind the scenes as well as the evening’s auctioneer.
“We are so appreciative of John Bearrows stepping up and taking over…he did a really great job,” Eckhardt added. “The evening was wonderful. It is just amazing how the community has gotten behind the event and supported us. For a community of our size to raise over $40,000 is incredible. It speaks very well to how generous our community is.”
