The Tenth Annual Heart Choices Spring Banquet will be held on April 14 at the Municipal Building, 119 N. Hersey, in Beloit. Doors will open at 6:30 pm and the meal, catered by Buffalo Roam, will begin at 7 pm followed by a program which will highlight activities and events that have taken place throughout the past year. This two hour event is the major fundraiser for the services provided at the pregnancy center. New this year will be the chance to bid on a Chocolate Basket, Movie Basket, and Spa Basket in a silent auction.
Guest speaker for the evening will be Pam Stenzel, a dynamic, charismatic, and educated expert on sex, love and relationships. She understands the perils that young people face as they make adult choices, and is dedicated to reviving the character and integrity of today's youth.
Pam tackles today's tough issues of sex with candor, insight, humor, and the challenge for young people to get the abstinence advantage. She has traveled worldwide, speaking in person to over 500,000 young people each year. Pam also holds seminars with parents and educators regarding issues of teen sex and how vital character building is in a child's upbringing.
In addition to speaking at the Banquet, Pam will be speaking to approximately 1,000 area junior and senior high school students including Beloit, St. John's, Lakeside, Tipton, Osborne, Pike Valley, Rock Hills, Concordia, Miltonvale, and Glasco. This has been made possible by contributions from Mitchell County Resource Council, Jewell County Resource Council, Community Foundation of Cloud County, Dr. and Mrs. Carl Fugate, State Bank of Downs, Downs National Bank, Farmers National Bank of Osborne, and Sunflower Bank of Osborne and by the cooperation of these North Central Kansas Area school administrators.
Heart Choices, located at 6th & Independence in Beloit, offers help and counseling to those experiencing distressful family situations, and the parenting classes and counseling curriculum have been instrumental in helping parents mature in their approach to raising their children. While strengthening their parenting skills, parents can earn necessary items for their children including diapers, clothing, formula, and more. Clients have been served from nine counties in the North Central Kansas area.
In addition, Heart Choices has provided abstinence-based and STD education presentations to 25 schools within a twelve county area in North Central Kansas during the past nine years. Students and teachers have responded favorably to these presentations.
All services at Heart Choices are free of charge. Funding is provided by individuals, churches, organizations and businesses in the NCK area through tax deductible donations.
The meal is free to those attending the Banquet as the cost is underwritten by these area individuals and businesses: Guaranty State Bank and Trust Co., Catlin's Friendly Apple Market, Carrico Implement, Max & Michele Heidrick, Lindy & Lori Lindblad, J.C. Finney Co., Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems, Super 8 Motel, Cassiopeia Club, McDonald-Roberts Funeral Service, Cunningham Telephone & Cable, Dental Designs of Solomon Valley, P.A., Edward Jones-Dale & Lynna Schmitt, Farmway Credit Union, Virgil Palen, Solomon Valley Veterinary Hospital, State Bank of Downs, City of Beloit, Thompson's OK Tire, Inc., Sunflower Manufacturing, Beloit Auto and Truck Plaza, Tipton Grocery, Michael H. Olson Public Accountant, Inc., Adrian Arnoldy, First National Bank of Beloit, Linton Insurance Agency, Louis & Marilyn Overmiller of Smith Center, Tipton Knights of Columbus, Waconda Trader, H & R Block, Beloit Motor Company, Investment Centers of America, Zachary's Ace Hardware, and Schwab-Eaton, P.A.
The Banquet is open to the public and will spotlight services provided to area clients. Reservations are required to assure adequate seating and to reserve your meal by calling 738-3433, 1-800-585-3433, or emailing heartbeat@nckcn.com by April 12.