Lubbock community news in brief
First responders to be honored at Unsung Heroes event
Prosperity Bank and The Rotary Club of Metropolitan Lubbock will co-host the 19th Annual Unsung Heroes Award Ceremony from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Prosperity Bank Conference Center, 1501 Ave. Q.
This ceremony serves as an opportunity to pay tribute and express gratitude to the first responders who bravely serve the Lubbock community. Judge Bill Sowder will be the keynote speaker. Award honorees are selected by their peers.
Recipients include:
• Matt Dawson, Lubbock Fire Rescue
• Officer Jeffrey Buschman, Lubbock Police Department
• Paramedic Aaron Odom, Emergency Medical Services
• Trooper Drew Woodard, Texas Department of Public Safety
• Civil Deputy Eddie Burton, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office
The Unsung Heroes Award began after the tragic events that happened on Sept. 11, 2001. This event is open to the public.
Casas for CASA Raffle gets underway
Casas for CASA presented by Market Street will be hosted at 4205 98th St. through Thursday, June 30. Anyone and everyone can purchase raffle tickets for the opportunity to win a $3,500 MasterCard gift card, or a custom-built playhouse, doghouse, or storage building donated by local community members.
Raffle tickets can be purchased anytime online at www.casaofthesouthplains.org or at the Market Street location at 98th Street and Quaker Avenue, on Thursdays and Fridays from 4-7 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. Raffle tickets are $5 each, or 5 tickets for $20, 15 tickets for $50, or 40 tickets for $100. The drawing will be held Thursday, June 30 at 5 p.m. Attendance is not necessary to win.
The funds raised during Casas for CASA stay right here in Lubbock and the five surrounding counties they serve. A CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, helps a child in foster care navigate the child welfare system while working to ensure their needs are being met and advocating to find them a safe, permanent home.
For more information, contact Stacy Kelley, marketing and development director, at (806) 763-2272 or via email at stacyk@casaofthesouthplains.org.
United Express host Special Olympics fundraiser
United Express fuel and convenience stores launched a donate-at-the-register fundraiser campaign that benefits Special Olympics chapters in their local areas. The campaign will run until June 8.
United Express has been a proud supporter of the Special Olympics since 2015 and it continues its support through fundraising efforts as well as volunteering at events. During that time, United Express and The United Family have raised more than $100,000 for Special Olympics chapters across the region.
Guests can contribute to the fundraiser by adding any dollar amount to their bill at checkout in any of the 38 United Express locations in Texas and New Mexico. The money raised will stay local to the market it is raised in.
Covenant Foundation presents Storytellers Evening
Covenant Health Foundation is bringing its annual fundraising event Storytellers, now in its 20th year, to Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts Plaza, 511 Ave. K. The benefit is scheduled for Saturday, June 11 at 6 p.m.
This year’s event, hosted by Lubbock’s Jay Boy Adams, will feature songwriters Terry McBride, Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell.
Since its inception, Storytellers has raised almost $2 million to support arts in medicine programs and state-of-the-art technology for Covenant Children’s, allowing us to expand access to pediatric specialists who aim to provide excellent care, keeping kids closer to home. This year, proceeds will benefit our pediatric oncology and hematology departments.
For information on remaining tickets, contact Emily Young at the Covenant Foundation, (806) 725-6114 or Emily.Young@stjoe.org.
UMC hosts annual water safety event
To support safe water practices, UMC and Texas Tech Physicians, will be hosting the annual UMC Children’s Water Safety Event, for parents and children, to provide water safety training for all ages and a free life jacket for kids.
It is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at Water Rampage, 6602 Marsha Sharp Freeway West
This event will offer attendees the option of staying until noon, when the water park officially opens to the public.
CPR training, First Responder truck tours, life jacket fittings and additional door prizes will be included at the event.
UMC EMS as well as the Lubbock Fire & Rescue Dive Team will also be in attendance.
Arboretum hosts Second Saturday program
The Lubbock Arboretum, 4111 University Ave., will host its next Second Saturday program on June 11.
The program is titled "Big, Bold, Beautiful but not Bearded!" and is about growing spuria and Louisiana iris in Lubbock. It will be presented by Pam Lamb.
Upcoming Second Saturday programs include July 9, Composting, presented by John Wallis; and Aug. 13, A Fall Vegetable Garden in Lubbock, presented by Betsey Heavner.
For more information, call (806) 797-4520.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock community news in brief
