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United Way of Allen County, in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana is seeking participants for its seventh series of Project Blueprint classes, which are designed to recruit and train a diverse group of local residents to serve as members of boards, committees and other decision-making bodies in the community.

The classes are a way to help local not-for-profit and human service agencies recruit a culturally diverse group of qualified individuals to serve on committees and boards. The graduates can then bring ideas to the table that might not currently be represented and will help reflect the experiences and perspectives of the entire community.

“These classes help United Way and other local non-profit agencies to become more inclusive, and reflective of our culturally diverse community,” said Todd Stephenson, president and CEO of United Way of Allen County. “Project Blueprint helps the participants by providing opportunities to connect with a variety of community and business professionals.”

Project Blueprint consists of five, 90-minute classes that cover various topics such as finance, governance and marketing for not-for-profit agencies. Once participants complete the classes, they serve as interns on local agency boards or committees.

The program is designed to enhance the skills of a diverse group of volunteers with a desire to make a difference in their community. The program strongly encourages the participation of persons from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, as well as persons with disabilities, who have strong leadership qualities and a keen interest in expanding their role in non-profit volunteer work.

Updated post April 30, 2011:

Look at all the fun had by the over 1500 attendees of Tapestry 2011, in Fort Wayne, Indiana to benefit Tapestry Parkview Endowment and Scholarship funds, to see more photos click here.
Tapestry: A Day For You is a day of inspiration, renewal and education for women in all stages of life. Celebrate the fabric of women while raising funds for women’s scholarships at IPFW – Fort Wayne.

Original Post March 7, 2011:

The 2011 Keynote Speaker is Molly Ringwald, iconic star of the 1980s hit movies Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles.

The day will also feature:
– Fashion and style show hosted by Glenbrook Square
– Presentation of the 2011 Tapestry scholarship winners
– Learning opportunities in the breakout sessions
– Inspiration from the 2011 Dedication Honoree
– Shopping in the Tapestry Sponsor and Boutique booths
– Time with friends and colleagues over breakfast and lunch

Learn More About Tapestry at the IPFW web site.

Celebrity Model Patty Martone

Support Tapestry Sponsors.

2010 Tapestry scholarship winners.

Try a sample.

Visit with long-time friends…

Meet new friends.

Tapestry proceeds support the Tapestry Parkview Endowment and Scholarship funds to provide scholarships to those studying health sciences at IPFW. Since its beginning in 2002, Tapestry has raised over $371,000 and awarded $69,000 in scholarships.

Work projects and volunteers are needed for United Way of Allen County’s 19th annual Day of Caring set for August 4, 2011 in Fort Wayne. The kick-off breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Headwaters Park West Rothschild Pavilion.
Day of Caring is a community-wide effort to match volunteers with projects such as painting or cleaning at local non-profit agencies and organizations. Approximately 1,000 volunteers take part each year to help improve their community.
Project proposals can be submitted by non-profit agencies, child care centers, after-school youth programs and schools. Private residential projects will be referred by United Way to NeighborLink Fort Wayne. Projects must be able to be completed in one day and will be offered to volunteer teams for consideration. The referring organization is responsible for supplying materials and equipment or making arrangements with the volunteers completing the project. Project proposals should be submitted no later than June 9, 2011.
Volunteer teams are also needed and can now sign up online. Projects are available for teams of any size. Teams should sign up no later than June 30, 2011.
Project forms and team forms are available online at: www.UnitedWayAllenCounty.org/dayofcaring or by clicking on the link on the homepage. Anyone interested may also call United Way of Allen County at 260.422.4776.

Here is a great way to help out Horizon Christian Academy, located in NE Fort Wayne, while getting a spaghetti dinner and a chance to bid on some fun items during the silent auction in the process!  Find out more about this wonderful school and the educational opportunity Horizon Christian Academy is providing to its students while you are there.

The evening will also include a live dessert auction!
Proceeds benefit Horizon Chrisitan Academy, learn more about the school on their Facebook page.

04/20/2011 Followup Post:
Everyone who attend the Embatini Fundraiser had a great time on stage at downtown Fort Wayne’s Embassy Theatre.  Upon their arrival, guests mingled, had their favorite beverage, and received a close-up view, while listening to music from the world famous Grande Page Pipe Organ. After a formal welcome from Executive Director, Kelly Updike, guests had dinner which was catered by Catablu, and then were entertained by Michael Nelaborige and Abby Ehinger.

If you love the The Historic Embassy Theatre and are looking for a unique way to help support it, then this is the event for you.  Be sure to look for information about the 2012 Embatini early in 2012 to insure your spot on stage.  Click here to see more photos of this event.  

03/16/2011 Original Post:

Click any image to enlarge.

Have you ever wanted to “take the stage” at the Embassy Theatre?  It is possible on April 20, 2011 by attending the Embatini.  This is the third year for this Embatini fundraiser, a dinner affair on the historic Embassy stage.

This third annual dinner affair will offer fine food, cocktails, and an intimate look at Embassy history.  Catering will be by Catablu, with desserts by DeBrand Fine Chocolates. Reservations are required.

As the evening begins, Embassy Grande Page organist Cletus Goens will be joined by talented area entertainers Michael Nelaborige and Abby Ehinger. The trio will share songs from the Embassy’s early
years. Harvey Cocks, artistic director of the Fort Wayne Youtheatre, will recall stories from his youth, when he literally grew up inside the Embassy (then Emboyd) Theatre.  See more photos of this event by clicking here.

Since 1928, the Embassy Theatre has been the crown jewel of downtown Fort Wayne and the
surrounding counties. It is the mission of the Embassy Theatre Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization that receives no tax-dollar support, to maintain and preserve the building while providing the finest of entertainment.  Built in 1928, the historic Embassy Theatre features Broadway productions, headliner concerts, educational programming, community events and cinema.

Proceeds from this event support operations at the Embassy, Indiana’s largest historical theater. For more information, visit www.fwEmbassyTheatre.org, or call 260.424.6287.

Embassy Theatre
125 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone 260.424.6287 www.fwEmbassyTheatre.org

Followup Post 04/16/11:

It was a rainy evening in downtown Fort Wayne but that did not dampen the spirits inside raising money for the Fort Wayne Ballet.  Many supporters turned out to celebrate the Fort Wayne Ballet’s move to the newly acquired  Auer Center for Arts and Culture which Arts United purchased.

Attendees enjoyed a wine tasting, delicious food, live music, and a silent auction with many wonderful donated items. If you missed this event but would still like to donate to the Fort Wayne Ballet click here.  To see more photos of A Toast To Downtown click here.

Original Post 03/14/11:

Fort Wayne Ballet, northern Indiana’s oldest and premier academy and performance dance organization, is moving to the heart of downtown after decades at their location on Penn Avenue. To celebrate their new studios and the opportunity to work more closely with other Fort Wayne arts organizations, the community is invited to attend a special evening of wine-tasting and tasty treats at A Toast to Downtown on Friday, April 15. Cap n’ Cork, Club Soda, DeBrand Chocolatier and Bradley Gough Diamonds are sponsors for the event, which will raise funds to benefit Fort Wayne Ballet.

The evening begins with an exclusive VIP 1st Pressing at 5:30 p.m., which allows access before the general public arrives at 7 p.m.  Those attending will enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres by Club Soda, chocolates by DeBrand, and premium wines and specialty cocktails provided by Cap n’ Cork.

Auer Center for Arts and Culture, 300 E. Main St., Fort Wayne

Tickets for the VIP event, are $100 per person and include admission to the event which follows from 7 p.m. through 9 p.m. General admission tickets for the 7-9 p.m. gathering are $50 per person and $75 per couple and include the opportunity for wine tasting and a selection of light hors d’oeuvres. A silent auction of high-quality items and unique packages will run through 8 p.m. that evening.

A Toast to Downtown will take place at the First Source Center, 200 East Main Street, next door to the new Fort Wayne Ballet studios at the Auer Center for Arts and Culture, 300 East Main Street. Reservations are required by April 12; an ID will be required at the door.  Tickets are available at select Cap n’ Cork locations and are available at Fort Wayne Ballet by calling 260-484-9646.

The Waynedale Community Improvement Team invites families to the first annual Easter Egg Hunt, April 16, 2011 at 10 a.m. in Waynedale Park, 2900 Koons St., Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Easter Egg Hunt will begin at the park pavilion.

Participants are asked to bring a basket and camera, if desired. All ages are welcome. The event is sponsored by 1st Source Bank, American Senior Communities Heritage Park, Wells Fargo and Fifth Third Bank.

Find out more about this Fort Wayne Easter Egg Hunt in Waynedale, call Tabitha Rowe, 1st Source Bank, at (260) 420-2427 or e-mail Janel Cain at janelcain@canihelp.org.

It was a great gala evening for Central Lutheran School on March 26, 2011 in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana at the new Courtyard by Marriott.  All the funds raised at the event will be used for the growth and expansion of Central Lutheran School.

The evening started with appetizers, cocktails, and a silent auction with an unbelievable number of high quality items for attendees to bid on and take home.  A short program followed by dinner and then a live auction.  The hog roast for 50 and the Bonita Beach, Florida condo were the most sought after of the 25 items on the auction block during the evening, although all the items were worth a high bid.

You will not want to miss this event in the future to help a great school, Central Luthern School, in New Haven, IN! View more photos by clicking here.

Fool Hardy History kicks off spring events at the History Center.  But why is it called Fool Hardy History?

On Saturday, April 2, the History Center, 302 East Berry, Fort Wayne, will host its annual edition of Fool Hardy History from 2 to 4 p.m.

Fool Hardy History is a hands-on trivia game held each year on the Saturday closest to April Fool’s Day and challenges the public to identify unusual or mystifying artifacts from the collection owned by the museum. This is an event that calls for some knowledge of the past but often depends more on vivid imagination aided by an occasional lucky guess.  Get your friends together and meet at the History Center in downtown Fort Wayne to see how smart or lucky they are!

Prizes are given to the adult and the student with the most correct answers.

Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities will once again host Northeast Indiana’s disABILITIES Expo at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana!  
       

There will be an Exhibitor Hall of 100 companies who provide resources, technology and equipment to people with disabilities, seniors and their caregivers!      

You will not want to miss the keynote presentation from Dancing Wheels (www.dancingwheels.org), see their web site to learn about their exciting program. Also see 2-time paralympian Mark Wellman and a climbing wall (www.nolimitstahoe.com), sports demos, a fashion show featuring models with disabilities, an art exhibit of works created by people with disabilities, and more! Turnstone is accepting art entries for this event!  Please visit www.turnstone.org/expo for the entry form.

For questions about disABILITIES Expo 2011, contact Jen Neher @ 260-483-2100 or jennifer@turnstone.org