This beautifully designed centerpiece is just one example of the decorating magic Kim Janzen brings to the Henderson Health Care Gala every year.
What started out as something that “looked like fun” has become a decades-long gift of volunteering her decorating expertise for Kim Janzen. Whenever there’s an event that needs a little magic, Kim can make it happen. She has made places like Stone Creek, Bethesda Fellowship Hall, the Heartland gym, and the Holtus Center look outstanding, places where people want to linger and enjoy.
After her involvement about 10 years ago in what was first called the Henderson Health Care fundraiser ‘Spring Fling’ and is now the ‘Gala’, her decorating journey began. Today, she has decorated for numerous graduations, weddings, and church events. Her attention to detail and her constant search for ideas and scouring for just the right centerpiece items make her tables beautiful and unique.
She’s the mastermind behind the decor at Heartland’s annual Wintersong event and has become proficient at matching table decorations and accents to the theme. This year, the theme was ‘Mists of Time,’ so she went with decor featuring all sorts of clocks, pocket watches, and hourglass timers, and she even found tablecloths with clocks on them.
Kim started the night before decorating 28 tables for this year’s Wintersong at the Heartland old gym, utilizing her detailed table map and arrangement photographs she prepares ahead of time.
It started back when, after attending the Spring Fling, she volunteered to help. After a few years, and joining the HHCF, she eventually took over running the entire event. “Back then, I remember Betty Regier and her sisters did the decorations, and others like Tammy Ott, Pam Janzen, and Julie Buller assisted over the years,” said Janzen.
“I learned from Tammy Ott, who had worked at the Petal Pusher, how to make a floral arrangement, because I didn’t really have a background in floral arranging or table decorations. I guess I just progressed from there.”
Eventually, the Gala was moved to the Holtus Convention Center, where Kim has handled up to 50 tables for this annual HHCS fundraiser. She spends quite a bit of time in preparation, coming up with ideas, color schemes, and decor to match the theme.
She utilizes Pinterest, Amazon, and other online sources for inspiration. This year, with the Gala theme “The Next Chapter,” she’s been collecting a wide selection of books and encyclopedias to complete her design concept.
Coming up with her final design concept takes plenty of trial and error and redesigning arrangements at her kitchen table until she is satisfied with the result. Any anxiety about completing such a big task is alleviated by being able to set up the day before both the Wintersong and Gala, she said.
Kim created a more industrial look for the tables in the year the hospital was under construction, and last year she highlighted pink to coordinate with the money being raised for a new mammography machine.
“I have to give a shout out to my mother-in-law, Darlene Janzen, who sews any size of tablecloths or runners I need for each event. I don’t sew, so I rely on her to create whatever the event requires in the way of tablecloths,” said Kim.
Kim has learned plenty since she first started, and staying organized is a priority. “I take photos prior to setting up at the event, documenting how everything should be arranged, and it’s all packed in tubs ready to go. This is in case I get sick or something happens, then anyone else could take over.”
One of her favorite decorating themes was the year the Gala had a Clue game-inspired event in McCool at Stone Creek. “It was a lot of fun incorporating the tables into the parts of the game. Like colors to match Mrs. Peacock, different weapons, and items for the kitchen.” She spent considerable time gathering enough items to match each room, such as kitchen rolling pins, bowls, hand mixers, and books for the library.
When the Gala changed its name to the Growth Gala, she had fun coming up with unique decor, incorporating live plants, growing grass, and daffodils in all-glass containers as centerpieces. Below are a few tables with the live grass and plants.
The Wintersong event held in February at Heartland includes appetizers followed by live music. After attending it a few years ago, she volunteered to take over decorating duties for about 28 tables.
Last year, she tackled a Fire and Ice theme for Wintersong, using plenty of votive candles, mirrors, and alternating red and white tablecloths. “I found some lighted ice cubes, placed mirrors under them, and it was beautiful.”
Needless to say, Kim has accumulated a large inventory of accessories over the years and tries to recycle and reinvent ways to use them if possible. She estimates she’s decorated for about five graduations, her three daughters’ weddings, and several of her nieces’ weddings.
She’s also been asked to do several notable banquets in the area, such as the Henderson Chamber Banquet, Henderson State Bank Christmas Party, Republican Party Banquet, and this year she did the York University President’s Banquet.
“I really enjoy doing these events and get satisfaction from seeing the end result, but I kind of like to stay in the background,” said Kim.
Besides her volunteer decorating duties, Kim is a business owner in downtown Henderson, where she operates The Headquarters Hair & Tanning Salon, which includes her gift shop Ivy & Main.
She may not like being in the limelight, but it’s clear Kim has made a name for herself through countless hours of preparation and decorating for so many events in the area. Her volunteer efforts over the years have certainly greatly enhanced and made them beautiful!
