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Legendary television newsman Tom Brokaw speaks at the 2006 Ambassador of Hope Gala, which is one of two UNMC-sponsored events to have been nominated for the inaugural Omaha Big Event awards. |
The Ambassador of Hope Gala was held Oct. 13 at Qwest Center Omaha and featured a speech by legendary newscaster, Tom Brokaw. The event, which was televised to three Nebraska cities — Norfolk, Sidney and Lexington, raised more than $1.6 million for the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center and was attended by 1,200 people.
Share the Beat was held March 10 at the Joslyn Art Museum and featured performances or appearances by several celebrities including actor Robert Redford and country singer Tim McGraw. The event raised money and awareness for organ donation, a cause that is dear to Redford’s son, James, who underwent two life-saving liver transplants at The Nebraska Medical Center in 1993.
Proceeds from the event, which was attended by nearly 1,000 people, went to the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness (JRI). JRI has hosted other Share the Beat events, but this was the first one held in Omaha.
The Ambassador of Hope event is one of five finalists in the Best Speaker/Special Guest category. Share the Beat is one of four finalists in the Best Musical Entertainment Category. In all, 32 events have been nominated in seven different categories.
“We have so many fantastic charity events in Omaha. We wanted to do something special to acknowledge these events along with all the hard work that goes into putting them on,” said Andrea Hoig, publisher of Metro Magazine and director of The Big Event Awards Celebration. “Given the stiff competition, UNMC should be proud to have two events nominated. It speaks highly for the high quality of event that the medical center always produces.”
One of the determining factors in selecting the winners will be votes cast by the public. Volunteers, board and guild members associated with the various events are eligible to vote.
Eligible UNMC employees wishing to vote can click here to print off a ballot.
Completed ballots should be sent to: The Big Event, c/o ALH Publications, 1229 S. 119th St., Omaha, NE 68144. Only mailed ballots that have been signed will be counted. E-mailed or faxed ballots will not be accepted.
Ballots must be received by Sept. 7. Each person who completes a ballot will receive two free tickets to The Big Event Awards Celebration on Sept. 12.