A Spooktacular Night for a Cause: Gina and Steven Helt Support Claremore Youth at Annual Boo Ball

Founders of Helt attend premier autumn gala as special guests of Owasso civic leaders and Vines Properties partners, the Piotters, in an evening dedicated to empowering local students.

CLAREMORE, Okla. — Dusting off their festive evening attire and leaving the service vans parked for the night, Gina and Steven Helt, founders of Helt, stepped out in support of local children and teens at this October’s annual Boo Ball, hosted by Volunteers for Youth.

The Helts were thrilled to attend the signature gala as the invited guests of their longtime friends and fellow community champions, the Piotters, local business owners with Vines Properties based in Owasso.

Renowned throughout the region for their steadfast servant leadership, the Piotters have dedicated years to serving on multiple civic boards and spearheading grassroots initiatives that uplift families and strengthen area neighborhoods.

The spirited event brought together Green Country residents, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders for an unforgettable night of themed costumes, live entertainment, and purpose-driven fellowship—proving that doing good in Green Country doesn’t have to be serious business all the time; sometimes, it comes with a dash of friendly fright and a whole lot of fun.

More importantly, the evening raised essential funds to directly sustain the life-changing mission of Volunteers for Youth: empowering local students through mentorship, positive development, substance prevention education, and proven family-support initiatives.

Empowering Rogers County Youth One Connection at a Time

Founded to ensure that every young person in Rogers County has access to consistent, caring adult guidance, Volunteers for Youth serves as a vital community anchor. Through flagships like the PAL (Positive Alternative Leaders) Mentoring Program, the organization pairs students in local schools with dedicated mentors who listen, offer encouragement, and help children uncover their strengths and build resilience.

Youth who participate in these programs achieve documented benefits, including:

• Academic Confidence & Attendance: Enhanced engagement in the classroom, stronger goal setting, and improved attendance.
• Emotional Well-being: Elevated self-esteem, healthy decision-making skills, and practical coping mechanisms.
• Safe Pathways to Success: Proven reduction in risky behaviors and stronger, healthier connections with peer groups and positive role models.

Every dollar raised during the Boo Ball directly fuels these initiatives—funding comprehensive mentor recruitment and screening, student enrichment activities, and expanded outreach to meet the evolving needs of families across Claremore and surrounding school districts.

Serving Homes, Supporting Neighbors: The Helt Commitment

For Steven and Gina Helt, joining the Piotters to champion Volunteers for Youth is a natural reflection of how they live and run their family business. As founders of Helt—headquartered right in Claremore and providing complete home solutions across Green Country in Heat and Air, Aerobic Septic, Fireplace and Chimney Care, and Air Duct Cleaning—the duo spends their working days keeping Oklahoma households safe, comfortable, and running smoothly.

Off the clock, their priority centers on giving back to the communities that have supported and welcomed them from day one.

"We were absolutely thrilled to be part of the Boo Ball this year, and being able to share the evening as guests of the Piotters made it even more special," said Gina Helt, co-founder of Helt. "The Piotters set such an incredible standard for community stewardship across Rogers and Tulsa counties through their leadership with Vines Properties and their service on civic boards. While Steven and I spend our days balancing airflow, servicing fireplaces, and keeping home systems running, genuine community warmth comes from people stepping up together to care for our kids. Volunteers for Youth lights up futures, and we are honored to stand alongside friends and neighbors who share that exact mission."

As the holiday season approaches, the Helts and the Piotters encourage business leaders and neighbors across Green Country to consider getting involved with Volunteers for Youth—whether through volunteer mentoring, program donations, or sponsoring community initiatives.

For more information on mentorship opportunities or how to donate to Volunteers for Youth, visit www.vfyok.org.

To learn more about Helt’s community involvement and comprehensive trade services across Northeast Oklahoma, visit www.heltheatandair.com.

About Helt:

Headquartered in Claremore, Oklahoma, Helt is a locally founded, family-owned home services company dedicated to keeping Green Country families safe and comfortable year-round. Specializing in heating, air conditioning, aerobic septic maintenance and installation, fireplace care, and air duct sanitation, Helt delivers trade expertise backed by integrity, veteran values, and neighborly service..

About Volunteers for Youth:

Volunteers for Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering healthy, successful futures for children and adolescents in Rogers County, Oklahoma. Through structured school-based mentoring (including the PAL Program), positive youth development initiatives, and prevention outreach, the organization empowers young people to reach their full potential.

Contact:
Helt Media Relations
Phone: (918) 341-4592
Website: www.heltheatandair.com

Helt Celebrates Community Leadership at Claremore Chamber’s Leading Ladies Gala as Michelle Tolbert is Named Leading Lady of the Year

CLAREMORE, Okla. — Celebrating outstanding female leadership, philanthropy, and community service across Rogers County, the Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Leading Ladies Gala.

Along side the many prominent local leaders in attendance was Gina Helt, co-owner and executive leader of Helt Heating and Air Conditioning, the multi-trade home services company proudly serving Claremore, Pryor, and greater Green Country.

Helt attended the Gala to champion local civic achievements and support her close friend and fellow nonprofit leader, Michelle Tolbert, who was being recognized as the 2026 Leading Lady of the Year.

Tolbert was accompanied by her husband, Steven Tolbert, the current Worshipful Master of the Will Rogers Masonic Lodge in Claremore—a men’s fraternity dedicated to charitable benevolence and community engagement—who joined in celebrating his wife’s milestone honor. Also in attendance to share in the joyful occasion was Dawnette Yaeger Sumter, herself a past Leading Ladies honoree and the dedicated Chairman of the Board for the Claremore Rainbow Assembly #24, and the sitting a Worthy Matron for the Claremore Oes, a Masonic affiliated charity supporting local youth.

Honoring Excellence:

Leading Ladies Award Recipients & Sponsors

The annual Leading Ladies Gala recognizes women whose leadership, innovation, and selflessness strengthen the community. The award recipients and their respective sponsors are:



Leading Lady of the Year (Sponsored by Northeast Technology Center ): Michelle Tolbert
Honored for: Exemplary, multi-faceted servant leadership, youth advocacy, and transformational community impact that enriches the lives of families across Rogers County.

Rising Star (Sponsored by TTCU The Credit Union ): Cambrey Harrison
Honored for: Demonstrating exceptional initiative, leadership, and potential as a dynamic, emerging young female leader.

Behind the Scenes (Sponsored by Rcbbank ): Rosalie Griffith
Honored for: Selfless, quiet dedication—working tirelessly out of the public spotlight to ensure essential operations, programs, and community efforts succeed.

Community Supporter (Sponsored by The City of Claremore Government ): Jessica Wilbourn
Honored for: Generous civic advocacy and passionate support across countless local events, programs, and initiatives that make Claremore thrive.

Non-Profit Leader (Sponsored by Bancfirst ): Emily Oberg
Honored for: Visionary leadership, mission-driven advocacy, and impactful service dedicated to lifting up our local community through the nonprofit sector.

Leader in Government (Sponsored by Baker Hughes ): Sen. Ally Seifried
Honored for: Principled public service, effective legislative stewardship, and steadfast leadership representing our community in state and regional governance.

Leader in Education (Sponsored by RSU Foundation): Dr. Susan Willis
Honored for: Excellence, dedication, and inspirational leadership in higher education, enriching the academic growth and success of students.

Leader in Health (Sponsored by A New Image Medical Spa ): Megen Rhine
Honored for: Exceptional healthcare commitment, professional skill, and dedication to enhancing the wellness and vitality of area residents.

Leader in Manufacturing (Sponsored by Claremore Economic Development ): Dana Meadows
Honored for: Operational excellence, innovation, and managerial leadership advancing Claremore’s manufacturing sector and regional economic strength.

Leader in Business (Sponsored by MST Manufacturing): Maddie Froman - Harris
Honored for: Entrepreneurial spirit, commercial vision, and notable professional contributions to Claremore’s business community.

Transforming Tomorrow’s Leaders:

Michelle Tolbert & Claremore Rainbow Girls

Tolbert’s recognition as Leading Lady of the Year highlights her extraordinary work as Mother Advisor of Claremore Assembly #24 of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (IORG).



The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a global youth service organization for young women ages 10 to 20. Grounded in faith, sisterhood, and service, IORG prepares young women for purposeful adulthood by cultivating vital leadership skills, public speaking confidence, and civic responsibility, while instilling core virtues of honesty, integrity, charity, and respect.

When Tolbert stepped into the leadership role, the local assembly was facing the imminent threat of closing its doors due to low membership. Through her unwavering devotion, Tolbert led a revitalization campaign that achieved a 750% increase in youth engagement and assembled a dedicated board of vetted adult mentors. Under her guidance, the assembly has become one of the premier youth leadership chapters in the state.

In Claremore, Tolbert’s Rainbow Girls are actively engaged in hands-on service:

• Senior Care: Delivering cheer to residents of the Shady Rest Retirement Home through Christmas caroling and personalized hand-painted gifts.
• First Responder Support: Donating hydration cases to the Claremore Fire Department and providing comfort stuffed animals to the Claremore Police Department for children in trauma.
• Veteran Outreach: Partnering with Operation Freedom Outdoors and visiting residents at the Claremore Veterans Center.

Charity & Crisis Relief: Serving meals at benefit dinners for local families displaced by structure fires, organizing Lego drives for children in the hospital, and supporting pediatric cancer research through Keaton’s Kindness Foundation.New Paragraph

A Shared Dedication to Lifting Up Our Community

Having previously received the Claremore Chamber’s Leading Lady of the Year award, Gina Helt reflected on the deep significance of this honor and Tolbert’s impact:

"As a previous honoree, I understand firsthand the deep love, daily sacrifices, and unconditional dedication required to pour your heart into our community," said Gina Helt. "Michelle exemplifies that devotion every single day. Being a Mother Advisor isn't just an assignment—she makes sure every young lady has a steady guiding hand, the tools to build self-confidence, and a loving network behind them. Watching someone of her humility and character receive this recognition alongside Steven and Dawnette, it truly fills my heart."

Helt, which operates trade divisions across heating, cooling, septic, hearth, and insulation throughout all of Green Country, remains anchored in its foundational values of family, freedom, faith and community support.

"It is so important to recognize those who do great things in our community and lift them up," added Helt. "Leaders like Michelle never seek out the spotlight, but when we elevate and celebrate their selfless service, we strengthen all of Rogers County and show our young people what it truly looks like to lead with heart."

About Helt

Headquartered in Rogers County, Helt is a veteran-owned, family-operated mechanical and trade service provider serving residential and commercial clients across Claremore, Pryor, and Northeast Oklahoma. With divisions specializing in HVAC, septic, and hearth services, Helt is dedicated to reliable craftsmanship, community investment, and family-first values.

About Claremore Assembly #24 (IORG)

Meeting at the Will Rogers Masonic Lodge #53 in Claremore, OK, Claremore Assembly #24 of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls empowers young women through character development, leadership training, and active local philanthropy.

Contact:
Helt Media & Community Relations
Phone: (918) 313-3155
Website: www.heltheatandair.com
Location: Claremore & Pryor, OK