On Friday, Jan. 17 at the Ogle County community room in Rochelle, the 2025 winners of the From the Heart Cash Calendar were drawn by members of the organization’s board and representatives from nonprofits that From the Heart raises money for. Winners can be found in the Rochelle News-Leader and online at fromtheheartrochelle.org.
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ROCHELLE — On Friday, Jan. 17 at the Ogle County community room in Rochelle, the 2025 winners of the From the Heart Cash Calendar were drawn by members of the organization’s board and representatives from nonprofits that From the Heart raises money for. Winners can be found in the Rochelle News-Leader and online at fromtheheartrochelle.org.
“The support we get from the community has been tremendous for calendar sales and the From the Heart Gala,” From the Heart Founder and President Dave Eckhardt said. “We’re very happy with that. We’ve been selling calendars now for 15 years. From the Heart has been in existence for 18 years.”
From the Heart raises money each year through its cash calendar sales and annual gala. The 2024 gala raised a record $90,000 and $11,250 checks were presented to each benefiting nonprofit.
The 17th annual From the Heart Gala & Auction will be held Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. at the hangar at Flight Deck Bar & Grill in Rochelle. Get your tickets at fromtheheartrochelle.org. Proceeds raised at the event will equally benefit the nine area nonprofits that From the Heart works with: the Rochelle Area Community Foundation, HOPE of Ogle County, Rochelle Christian Food Pantry, Pegasus Special Riders, Hub City Senior Center, Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center, CASA, Community Action Network (CAN) and FOCUS House.
Items up for auction at this year’s gala will include a Taylor Swift autographed CD with pictures in a frame, a jersey and photo autographed by Dennis Rodman, a jersey autographed by the actor that played Rudy, a trip for six to Nashville for up to six people, an 85-inch TV, and various purses and jewelry items.
This year's event will include dinner, games, prizes and silent and live auction items. Eckhardt said the goal for this year’s gala is $100,000.
“We’d like to give each group over $10,000,” Eckhardt said. “Calendar sales were down this year and last year. Last year we made up for it at the gala. We have a new benefiting nonprofit this year in CAN. The support we’ve gotten from the community is incredible. Our first ever goal when we started From the Heart was to raise $30,000 for three nonprofits.”
Eckhardt said planning the From the Heart Gala takes an entire year. The work is done by volunteers from the Rochelle Rotary Club and those involved with the nine nonprofits.
“Looking at numbers like $90,000 and $100,000 is incredible,” Eckhardt said. “The idea of being able to give over $10,000 to each of our nine nonprofits is amazing to me. We never thought it would evolve to this point with such high numbers and so many benefiting nonprofits. It’s been really cool to see. It’s a great way to help these organizations. We’re able to touch a lot of different lives from kids all the way up to seniors.”