Heroes in the Heartland luncheon, now in its 13th year, honors individuals who have saved another person's life during the past year or who have positively impacted the quality of life in the Omaha metro.

The Heroes honored will have their stories chronicled in moving video vignettes, played before a lunch-time audience of hundreds of friends, family, community leaders, and media representatives. Another highlight of this program is the essay contest for youth in grades 5-8 in the counties we serve in Southwest Iowa and the Omaha metro. The student winners have written about someone in their life who exemplifies the qualities of a hero and have won $100 for their exceptional stories.