2008 Dueling Pianos Event Caters to "Rebels With A Cause"

Rebels With a Cause was the 1950's theme of the fourth annual Strike a Chord fundraiser for southwest Iowa children and families. The event was held Friday, August 1, at Harrah's Convention Center, and included a Las Vegas dueling pianos show, a celebrity art auction, live and silent auctions and a raffle. Popular features included photo souvenirs of guests in leather jackets on a huge, sparkling-new cruiser motorcycle, and temporary tattoos of the event logo. An enticing variety of international foods and spirits from Polynesia, India, Hungary and China were served. Council Bluffs residents Ron and Joanie Tekippe served as host couple of the event.

Dr. Michael Crawford won the People's Choice Award with his artwork, Heart Throbs, and Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber provided his unique commentary throughout the evening as Dean of Ceremonies. He sang Only You, originally performed by The Platters, but with lyrics modified to fit the evening's festivities. Strike A Chord 4 is conducted by the agency's Southwest Iowa Advisory Committee, which includes Don Andersen, Marcia Antworth, Suzi Brehmer, Dorothy Duran, Alice Edwards, Jody Edwards, Lisa Gronstal, Carl Heinrich, Ted Hoff, Cindy Hoover, Rita Kearney, Rick Killion, Kelley Kulesa, Joanie Tekippe and Barb Walsh.