D.J.’s Heroes celebrates 25 years
More than 1,100 people filled the CHI Health Center on May 7 for the D.J.'s Hero Awards luncheon, an annual spring fundraiser that is endearing to many Omahans. This year’s event presented 16 young people with $12,000 scholarships, featured surprise guests and honored the 25-year legacy of this program.
The high school seniors in the 2024 class of D.J.’s Heroes have overcome a variety of hardships — being non-native English-speakers, having parents who are no longer alive or able to take care of them, living with chronic ailments and more — yet they all persevere and are excellent students and community members, making each award recipient worthy of the title “D.J.’s Hero.”
Keynote speaker David Sokol reflected on his relationship with the event, which started after the death of he and wife Peggy’s son, D.J. Sokol. Following his remarks, he moderated a panel of six past Hero Award winners, who spoke to the award’s positive impact on their lives, families and communities. The alumni panel reflected on how the scholarship helped them attend colleges they otherwise could not afford, which, in turn, enabled them to start businesses, found community organizations, pursue important research, write books, find love and more.
The event also included presentation of the Evangeline Booth Award to David and Peggy Sokol. This is the highest honor bestowed on organizations and individuals by The Salvation Army in recognition of a lifelong commitment to public service. Commissioner Kenneth Hodder, National Commander of The Salvation Army, noted that the award has been given to notable people such as president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush, singer Reba McEntire, philanthropist Joan Kroc and many others.
Over the lifetime of the event, 222 students have been awarded scholarships, and more than $4.4 million has been garnered through this fundraiser, which supports metro-area youth programming. The 2025 event will take place May 13, 2025, at CHI Health Center.
Those who wish to give to the organization may do so by clicking here