Dutch American Heritage Foundation

Dutch American Heritage Day at the California Club

Reported Robert C. Visser, photos by John van der Hulst

The Fourteenth Annual Gala to celebrate Dutch American Heritage Day was held on Wednesday November 16, 2005 in the elegant grand ballroom of the California Club in downtown Los Angeles. William J. Heetderks, MD, PhD, of the National Institutes of Health, and the NESSO, the Netherlands Social Services Organization, were inducted into the Dutch American Hall of Fame.&nsbp; President Bush issued a special proclamation honoring Dr. Heetderks. The Pieter Meijers quintet again provided wonderful music to listen and dance to. Melina Gerges, soprano, entertained us with several arias.

Attendance was down this year but, thanks to donations and the silent auction, the event still raised over $8,000 to benefit the NESSO, the Hans Hienkens Fund and the Dutch studies program at UCLA.

Make your plans now to attend this fabulous event next year and support Dutch American charities in Southern California.

Consul General Madelien de Planque welcomed the guests

Honoree Dr. William Heetderks and his wife Kathy

Nonnie Utrecht accepted the award on behalf of the NESSO

NAS President Albert Mooiweer and wife Annemarie attended

Eric van Ginkel was the MC for the event

Evening entertainment was by Melina Gerges, soprano, shown in a duet with Bram Benjamins

The Corpels came from Menitee to attend the event

Dick and Yvonne van Hoepen on the dance floor

Dahef President Martin Perlberger presented the awards which included a presidential citation

Dahef Board member Monique Boutros with Consul General Madelien de Planque