Friends of the Lied fundraising gala is Jan. 28

UNL's Lied Center for Performing Arts
UNL's Lied Center for Performing Arts

Reservations are being taken for the Friends of Lied 2012 gala Jan. 28 at UNL's Lied Center for Performing Arts.

The gala, "Friends of Lied Crystal Gala Black and White Ball," marks the 11th fundraising gala and celebrates the Lied Center's 22nd season. The black tie event will include an evening of food, entertainment and friends supporting the Lied Center.

Over the years, the Lied Center has brought hundreds of top-quality national and international acts to Nebraska including Broadway shows, concerts and entertainers. The Friends of Lied organization and its fundraising efforts enable the Lied Center for Performing Arts to keep ticket prices reasonable and provide an arts and education program for all Nebraskans.

Scheduled entertainment for the ball includes the classic sounds of the Ezinma Trio, featuring piano, cello and violin on the main stage during dinner; D'Funk following dinner on the main stage; and Vince Learned tickling the ivories in a night club atmosphere at a piano bar in the Johnny Carson Theatre following dinner.

This year's raffle will feature a trip for two to New York City, including an $800 travel voucher from United Airlines, a room at the Warwick Hotel in the heart of midtown Manhattan, dinner at the Gramercy Tavern and two New York City PASS booklets for sight-seeing. Also being raffled is a 47-inch LG 3D flat screen television, valued. Raffle tickets are $10 each and can be purchased from Friends of Lied board members or during the event.

A silent auction will include works of art by various artists as well as from Kiechel Fine Art of Lincoln; a vintage 1950 Roy Rogers guitar; 14K Italian yellow gold bracelet; golf packages; sports memorabilia and a week stay in Costa Rica. For a complete list of auction items, go to http://www.liedcenter.org/support. To inquire about reservation and raffle tickets, contact Donna Seefeld at 402-472-4704.

The Friends of Lied Gala, which takes place every two years, is the organization’s largest fundraising project. More than 76 women from throughout the state of Nebraska involved in Friends of Lied have volunteered hundreds of hours over that past several months to plan the gala as well as support the center through promotion, fundraising and social activities, serving as ambassadors and liaisons for artistic experiences in the state.

— Matthew Boring, Lied Center for Performing Arts