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Eden Home:
Champagne Gala

What began as a suggestion for a fun event and a way to generate benevolent funds for Eden Home residents who have outlived their resources has become a must-attend event for New Braunfels. In 2002, a committee met to begin organizing the first Champagne Gala. Individuals, businesses and corporations as well as Eden Home’s vendors were
contacted to help underwrite the Gala. Many individuals and New Braunfels’ businesses contributed items for the silent auction.
On February 28, 2003, volunteers and friends of Eden Home arrived at the Civic Center and set tables in a formal manner, positioned place holders for reserved tables, and created floral arrangements for the tables, ultimately transforming the Civic Center into an elegant setting. As the evening started, guests arrived and were very impressed with the beauty and elegance of the hall. While many went directly to the silent auction to see what might suit their fancy and placed their opening bid, others chose to make their selections among the many culinary delights being offered. Eden Home’s renowned Dietary Department provided a wonderful gourmet meal and The Moonlight Express Band, under the direction of Mark Voges, from Austin provided wonderful music to dance and listen to which featured the infamous Big Band sound.
When the silent auction closed, winning bidders hurried to pick-up and pay for their treasures. The committee had the final dance and the end of the night and the first gala was officially in history books. The event was considered a huge success and generated approximately $18,000 towards the Benevolence Fund of Eden Home.
No sooner was the curtain drawn on the 2003 Gala when work began on the 2004 Gala. Each year the event has continued to generate more proceeds for the Benevolence Fund; most recently, the 2006 Gala raised approximately $30,000.
The 2007 Champagne Gala will be held on March 16 at the New Braunfels Civic Center. The event begins at 6:00 pm with complimentary drinks and the opening of the silent auction. A gourmet meal will be served beginning at 7:00 and The Moonlight Express Band will begin playing Big Band music. The silent auction will close at approximately 8:30 but the band will continue to entertain our guests until 10:00 P. M. Tickets are $65 each or you may reserve a table for 8 for $575 and individual seating will be available. Tickets can be purchased at Eden Home, or for more information, please call 830-625-6291, ext. 246.
And a little history…
Eden Home, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation, affiliated with the United Church of Christ, has been providing faith-based ministry and attentive care to the elderly since 1910. Because of the vision of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Schmidt, and a generous gift of $10,000.00, Eden Home (or for the aged, “Altenheim” as it was known), began as a custodial care center for retired ministers and their wives. Over the years, the mission has expanded to create a secure and loving environment for the elderly.
Eden Home was originally located in San Antonio, on South Presa street, off the Old Corpus Christi Highway. Beginning with a resident population of twenty-four (24) individuals, care was provided for elderly residents, many of whom had no family to assist them in their day-to-day living. Churches played a major role in providing benevolent assistance for individuals who could not afford the cost of their care. In 1956, construction of a new interstate highway necessitated a decision to move Eden Home to New Braunfels. Through the efforts of Mr. E. P. Nowotny and others, a beautifully wooded hillside location above the Comal River was selected and construction began. When the new Eden Home was completed, residents were transported, suitcases in hand, on Greyhound buses from San Antonio to New Braunfels.
Currently, the New Braunfels campus is comprised of: a 256-bed skilled nursing facility; Eden Heights, a low-income eligible apartment building with 92-units; Eden Village, a 50-unit single-family retirement housing community; and Eden Cross, a 50-unit HUD 202 complex of town houses for low-income retirees in Seguin. Over 500 residents and Villagers from all locations of Texas and the United States are served daily on the 15-acre New Braunfels campus.
Many residents have outlived their financial resources, yet no one is ever asked to leave due to their inability to pay. Over 55% of all Eden residents receive some type of benevolent assistance. In 2006, Eden Home provided approximately $2,000,000 in benevolent care for our residents.
Eden Home was selected as one of five Texas nursing homes to initiate an intergenerational program known as the Eden Alternative. Later, we received national and state-wide recognition through affiliation with the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, St. Phillips College, San Antonio, and Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Long Term Care for Quality Improvement as practicum sites.
Eden Home is also very fortunate to have a wonderful staff of caring and compassionate individuals. Our staff includes individuals who have been with Eden Home for more than 15, 20, and 25 years, with one individual who has been a caregiver at Eden Home for over 35 years. Eden Home is indeed a large family, and one which comes together in times of celebration, crisis or need.
 

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