Valentine crowds dance the night away

Visitors to Indiana Downs on Saturday celebrated Valentine's Day with dinner and candlelight while alsosupporting important charitable causes.

The second floor clubhouse was filled with more  than 300 people who dined and danced to support the American Heart Association, and the track's Family Pavilion had around 100 who were working to raise money for the Waldron/St. Paul Imagination Library.

Saturday was the third year for the Valentine Gala that raises funds and awareness for heart diseases. The event was started by Trena James, the widow of Tom James, an Indianapolis businessman who died from a heart attack in 2007 at the age of 42, leaving behind his wife and four daughters.

"Tom looked like he was in perfect health," James said. "People need to know that heart disease is often a silent killer."

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James and her family, including daughters Erin, Morgan and Katie James and Carissa Bratcher, said they feel like the event honors the memory of Tom James. They hope to continue the annual dinner dance in the future and see it grow larger each year.

"This is a way for us to share our story and spread the word about heart disease to others," Erin said.

"We know that something like this can't bring our dad back," Carissa said, "but it is a way to deal with our loss and hopefully keep someone else from losing someone they love."

The dance included a buffet prepared by Indiana Downs chef Greg Schiesser, music by The Headliner Band and a silent auction. Many of those in attendance took advantage of a chance to pull out their party clothes and celebrate the holiday.

"You know me," said Jill Evans of Miss Jill's School of Dance. "I love to have a chance to dress up."

Those who attendedthe Waldron/St. Paul Imagination Library Valentine's Day dancewere very focused on the importance of raising money for the program that will provide books for children in the community.

"We are pleased with the turnout for our first year," organizer Jackie Runnebohm said, "but I think we will try a different time of year if we do this again. Valentine's Day is just too busy."

The purpose of the dance and other fundraisers planned by Runnebohm, Jeff and Pam Linder and other committee members is to raise enough money for an endowment at Blue River Community Foundation to pay for the Imagination Library program, which mails books each month to all children from birth to age 5 in the Waldron and St. Paul areas. Donations and fundraisers already have earned around $30,000 toward the $200,000 endowment goal.

The dance offered a large silent auction filled with donated items, and Runnebohm said the tickets to the dance along with this auction revenue should produce a hefty donation for the cause.

"People were generous with their donations," she said. "Everyone we talk to seems to agree that getting books into the hands of children is a good idea. People care about this project even if they don't live in Waldron or St. Paul."

The next project is selling Easter eggs filled with candy, stickers and treats. Last year, students at Waldron Elementary filled and sold almost 4,000 of the plastic eggs, and Runnebohm said this year they hope to sell even more.

Gina Pleak, principal at Waldron Elementary, said projects like Imagination Library teach children philanthropy while raising money to bring more books into the community.

Organizer Jeff Linder said he was pleased with the enthusiasm of the crowd at the Saturday's dance.

"A big part of what we want to do is make sure that everyone in the community understands what we are trying to accomplish," he said.

"It helps us that the Morristown Imagination Library is up and running. We think that community pride will make people in the Waldron/St. Paul area want the same program for their children. We hope to see this program expanded throughout the entire county."