Heartland Family Feud to raise scholarship money

Evening of Dreams: Heartland Feud is a fundraising event from 5:30­–9 p.m. Thursday at the DoubleTree Hotel & Conference Center in Bloomington.

Evening of Dreams is the signature event for the Heartland Community College Foundation, and the funds for this event help support the student scholarship program and Child Development Lab at HCC's campus. The lab is a place where people who have small children can be assured they are looked after while they go to school or work, but it also helps teach those who are in need of a real world education and want to study in the field of child care.

Chris Downing, executive director of the scholarship foundation at Heartland, said past fundraisers have offered ways for people to participate in the dinner.

"For the past decade or so, we have always tried to have an interactive theme for people who are coming. So it's not just your typical sit down dinner — they get the chance to participate one way or another," Downing said. "In years past, we've done video stock car racing, where people literally are the driver in the game; we've done horse racing and Deal or No Deal. This year, it's the second year of the Heartland Feud. It's basically 'Family Feud,' but instead of families, we randomly select people from the crowd to be the respected teams."

People can win prizes for their teams and also as part of the audience. There is also a silent auction of more than 30 unique baskets and a live auction.

The event is $50 and includes a cash bar. Those attending must be 21 or older.

Local businesses, community members and former students come out to support the fundraiser often because 90 percent of students who graduate from Heartland stay and work in the local community, and this is their chance to reinvest in the college.

The event will fund multiple scholarships, and it is estimated to net $30,000.

This is one of six events over the year to raise money, along with personal donors who are touched by the events.

Evening of Dreams is "not just a fundraising event, but an opportunity to educate and speak with the community about what is going on at Heartland," Downing said.

Source: Heartland Family Feud to raise scholarship money