Gail’s Photography & Designs | Photography Sponsor
As we continue to host fundraising events and get ready to produce the first Christkindlmarket Des Moines, we’re finding a lot of memorable moments along the way. We’re grateful to have Gail’s Photography and Designs to capture those for us as our 2016 Photography Sponsor.
Gail retired from Lifetouch Portrait Studios in June 2014. The next month, she opened her own photography business. Her subjects are usually children and families. She also designs word art that are offered in metal or in print. Her favorite part of her job is seeing families enjoying themselves and capturing moments for them to keep for generations.
Gail has not attended a Christmas market in the past, but she is looking forward to looking at the unique gifts that are offered. Her involvement with Christkindlmarket Des Moines was inspired by her Italian heritage and passion for learning about other cultures.
“I believe that learning about and understanding what other cultures have to offer is essential in our society,” Gail said.
She also encourages people interested in European heritage to get involved with Des Moines European Heritage Association and Christkindlmarket Des Moines.
“There’s great connections to be made and everyone brings something special to it that only they can give.”
Gail’s photos from our Experience France event at VOM FASS are available on the Des Moines European Heritage Association Facebook page. Take a look to see her great work. You’ll see Gail at all of our 2016 fundraising events as well!
Thank you, Gail, for your support!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Join us for a British High Tea!
On May 15, experience a British High Tea at Purl Café with Des Moines European Heritage Association. Two seating times are available, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Don your fanciest hat to celebrate spring and culture over tea, finger sandwiches and petite desserts.
This event is perfect for a belated Mother’s Day celebration, a day out with girlfriends or a day out with someone you love. Get a group together to enjoy live violin music, a talk by tea expert Donna Cheeseman, a silent auction and refreshments. Guests will be able to choose from a variety of hot and cold teas, traditional tea sandwich options like cucumber and egg salad and a variety of desserts like cream puffs and brownie bites. Gluten free options are available but must be reserved in advance.
Be sure to dust off your fascinators (decorative hats commonly worn by Brits on formal occasions) and wear them with pride. The best hat in each seating will receive a prize. Don’t have a fascinator lying around? Check out this tutorial to learn how to make them and then customize your own. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Tickets are $25 and are now available on Eventbrite.
Join the event on Facebook and invite your friends!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Give Local Des Moines
On May 3, Des Moines European Heritage Association and more than one hundred other nonprofits in the area will be joining together to participate in a full day of giving with Give Local Des Moines. From midnight to midnight, they will gather donations from the community to fund their causes. The 24-hour crowd-funding event is a partnership with Give Local America. In 2015, more than $68 million dollars were raised in one day by the participating nonprofit organizations.
The goal of the day is to bring together the community to support organizations that make Des Moines the great city that it is. Our organization is working to make Des Moines and Central Iowa even better by creating cultural experiences, promoting language learning and connecting with traditions. The day also aims to help everyone in the community have a chance to be a part of charitable giving. It isn’t about giving huge amounts of money, but instead connecting with causes that resonate with each individual.
The money raised by Des Moines European Heritage Association will support our inaugural Christkindlmarket Des Moines. It’s free and open to the public! We can’t wait to share it with Des Moines. Until then, join us for Give Local Des Moines to be a part of a community-wide event. We’d love to have your support!
Want more information? Click here to read up on some frequently asked questions.
Be sure to stop by our donor page before the event so you know where to go on the big day!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Sponsor Spotlight | Stoy Hall and Modern Woodmen of America
Christkindlmarket Des Moines relies on donations to help bring our work to life. We appreciate all our sponsors and donations that come from individuals or are collected at fundraisers.
With that said, wouldn’t it be great if donations could double themselves and have twice the impact? Definitely! That’s why we’re so excited to welcome Stoy Hall and Modern Woodmen of America as out matching sponsor for Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2016.
Founded in 1833, Modern Woodmen of America is a fraternal financial service organization. They offer life insurance, annuity and investments. In addition to their services, Modern Woodmen of America offers benefits to members through their fraternal programs. Chapters across the nation are able to host events and activities that help them invest in their communities. These include educational and social events, as well as volunteer opportunities. Matching fund programs, like the one supporting Christkindlmarket Des Moines, help the organization get involved in the communities where it operates.
Stoy has been with the organization for five years, including an internship. According to him, finding ways to participate in the community is an important part of being in a fraternal organization. Though he has never attended a Christmas market, he looks forward to having one in Des Moines.
“The ability to do something in the community near Christmas with cultural influences is a no brainer. I have done a lot of research on them and I believe Des Moines will be a great fit for the event, ” he said.
The first event to be matched by Stoy and MWA will be a British High Tea in May. Keep an eye on our Facebook Page and the blog to learn more.
Thank you for your support!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Sponsor Spotlight | Kum & Go
If you’re from Iowa, Kum & Go is probably a familiar name. The convenience chain, headquarter in West Des Moines, has been a part of Iowa communities for more than 55 years. Their commitment to Iowa makes them a perfect fit as a sponsor for the state’s first ever Christmas market. We’re excited to welcome them as a Silver Sponsor for Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2016!
Kum & Go has a commitment to giving back to the communities where they work. Each year, the company donates 10 percent of their profits to causes they care about. They give charitable gifts, sponsor nonprofit events and partner with nonprofits to create impactful campaigns. Recently, they began fundraising efforts for Habitat for Humanity in their stores.
In addition to their focus on charitable giving, Kum & Go has a focus on arts and culture. This commitment makes them a great connection for Christkindlmarket Des Moines as we work to expand cultural opportunities and education here in Iowa.
Thank you for your support, Kum & Go!
As a grassroots non-profit, Des Moines European Heritage Association serves as a platform to carry on European traditions, support language education and to create cultural awareness. We are a resource for Iowans, immigrants, travel enthusiasts and international business professionals to connect with European cultural heritage and for cultural organizations who want to engage with their members in a cohesive and centralized manner.
The Making of a Christmas Market | Vendor Stalls
If you’ve been following our blog, you might have seen how important vendors are to creating a successful Christmas market. Christkindlmarket Des Moines is now one step closer to providing them at our event. Materials for our first vendor stall were dropped off this week at Waukee High School. Starting in August, industrial arts students in the school will finish building the remaining stalls.
Before production starts, it is important to remember where the stalls began. Annie Vo, with OPN Architects in Des Moines, volunteered her time and talent to design the stall. See the sketch below to see the beginning of this project.
As production begins in the coming months, Christkindlmarket Des Moines will continue to move forward. It’s great to see a project that has been two years in the making come to life. We’re so thankful to Jack Schulte, Waukee’s industrial technology instructor, for helping this partnership get off the ground. We’re excited to see his students bring our vendors stalls to reality.
Be sure to follow our Facebook page to continue to see progress on the project!
Check back as the year goes on to see more of what it takes to make Christkindlmarket Des Moines a reality!
As a grassroots non-profit, Des Moines European Heritage Association serves as a platform to carry on European traditions, support language education and to create cultural awareness. We are a resource for Iowans, immigrants, travel enthusiasts and international business professionals to connect with European cultural heritage and for cultural organizations who want to engage with their members in a cohesive and centralized manner.
Experience France: A Wine and Food Tasting
Order tickets via Eventbrite
Experience the flavors of France at an exclusive wine and food tasting hosted by VOM FASS to benefit Des Moines European Heritage Association (DMEHA).
This private event features samples of 4-5 French wines selected by certified sommelier Jeff Yanecek of Okoboji Wines. Enjoy French-inspired small bites prepared by VOM FASS owner Melissa Bartholomew, farmhouse cheeses from The Cheese Shop and VOM FASS vinegars and oils paired with artisanal breads from La Mie.
VOM FASS Des Moines is locally owned and offers exclusive cask-aged vinegars, exquisite oils, unique spirits and liqueurs direct from the cask, as well as select wines which may be sampled at the shop. The shop opened March 2012 and is celebrating its four-year anniversary.
Ample parking is available in the front and rear of The Shops at Roosevelt with convenient front and rear access into the store.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Des Moines European Heritage Association and the production of their signature event, Christkindlmarket Des Moines, taking place this December 2–4 in Western Gateway Park. Additionally, ten percent of all VOM FASS product sales during the event will be donated to DMEHA.
Spots are limited, so purchase your tickets today.
When:
WhereVOM FASS Des Moines – 833 42nd Street, Des Moines, IA 50312 – View Map
Sponsor Spotlight | The Rasmussen Group
Though Christkindlmarket Des Moines is a new event, our goal is to become a local tradition where families can come together to celebrate their history. That’s why The Rasmussen Group is the perfect fit as a sponsor for our organization. A family tradition in its own right, the group is now run by the fourth generation of the Jensen family.
The Rasmussen Group manages twelve construction companies that cover a range of services from concrete and asphalt supply, hauling to bridge construction. In addition to their construction work, the company has been working in their community for over one hundred years. They donate money for scholarships, serve on community boards and volunteer. Their involvements include Anawim Housing, Habitat for Humanity, United Way of Central Iowa and Y Camp from the YMCA.
Christkindlmarket Des Moines is excited to welcome Rasmussen Group on as a vendor stall sponsor. We hope that our event will someday resemble their company—long-standing, steeped in tradition and multi-generational.
Thank you for your support!
As a grassroots non-profit, Des Moines European Heritage Association serves as a platform to carry on European traditions, support language education and to create cultural awareness. We are a resource for Iowans, immigrants, travel enthusiasts and international business professionals to connect with European cultural heritage and for cultural organizations who want to engage with their members in a cohesive and centralized manner.
Now Seeking Vendors and Performers!
Christmas markets are more than just seasonal events. They are cultural experiences. If you don’t believe it, read the post written by our newly added Board Director, Doug Whittle. It paints a vivid picture of what makes Christmas markets so popular around the world.
Des Moines European Heritage Association is excited to bring that experience to Des Moines, but we can’t do it alone. We need vendors and performers to help us create the entertaining and educational experience of Christkindlmarket Des Moines. Applications for vendor stalls and performers (both general and stage) are now available and must be completed by June 15, 2016.
Why is finding vendors so important to us? They are an essential part of any Christmas market. After all, there would be no market without them. Vendor offerings of handmade gifts and specialty items create a shopping experience for visitors unlike any other during the holiday season. Shoppers can find nutcrackers, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, clothes and toys for children of all ages all in one place.
However, don’t think vendors are limited to just gifts! Traditional food and drinks are some of the most popular offerings at Christmas markets around the world. Is there anything better than hot spiced wine (Glühwein) or roasted nuts on a cold December day?
Performers at Christkindlmarket Des Moines are just as important for creating an immersive atmosphere for visitors. Whether it’s traditional folk music, clogging, yodeling or choirs, each act adds to the experience. Each one is an opportunity to share heritage and tradition with attendees.
If you or your business is interested in participating in Christkindlmarket Des Moines in either of these capacities, please read more on the process on either of the applications.
As a grassroots non-profit, Des Moines European Heritage Association serves as a platform to carry on European traditions, support language education and to create cultural awareness. We are a resource for Iowans, immigrants, travel enthusiasts and international business professionals to connect with European cultural heritage and for cultural organizations who want to engage with their members in a cohesive and centralized manner.
Sponsor Spotlight | Darcy Hines Designs
Creating a Christmas market takes a lot of work. There are donations to gather, plans to make with the City and entertainment acts to schedule. Before that can be done, it’s important to have a way to distinguish our event from the 20 other Christmas markets across the country. That’s where our creative sponsor Darcy Hines Designs is essential. Her work has helped create Christkindlmarket Des Moines’ brand.
Darcy Hines is the owner and graphic designer at Darcy Hines Designs. Her work focuses on typography and a clean style. She enjoys working with clients who allow her to be creative with her design choices. She often works on creating brand standards and stationary.
She began working with Christkindlmarket Des Moines in July 2015. During that time she worked with Des Moines European Heritage Association board to create our logo and brand. Some of her work can be seen on our Christkindlmarket Des Moines website and Facebook page.
According to Darcy, she was motivated to get involved by the unique nature of our event.
“I love the idea of bringing such a festive and creative event to Des Moines in the months where people are normally bundled up in their houses. I think it’s a great opportunity to bring people out together as families, offer them a chance to experience a culture they normally wouldn’t be able to, and breathe some light into those cold winter months with hot cider and hand-made Christmas gifts.”
As for inspiration, she looks to Christmas markets from across the world. Though she hasn’t yet attended a Christmas market, this research has helped her understand why people love them.
Thank you for your work, Darcy!
