PALMERSTON – The Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation is once again presenting its Starlight Gala, marking 22 years of fundraising for essential medical equipment and needs.
“People think of a gala as a formal, stuffy affair, and we’ve really tried to keep that semi-formal to formal feel but with a lot of fun infused,” foundation development officer Dale Franklin told the Advertiser.
The event is slated for May 24 with a “Meet me at the Mediterranean” theme. The Palmerston Community Centre will be transformed by a dedicated team of decorators to enhance the night’s magic.
“There will be a great meal supplied, as well as a live auction and a silent auction,” gala chair Doug Morrell explained.
Entertainment will be presented by a tribute band by the name of Always ABBA.
The foundation has introduced a new aspect to the event, which allows one lucky guest to get first dibs on the live auction items. The Golden Ticket Draw includes 250 printed tickets selling for $100 each, available until May 22.
“If their name is drawn, they will be able to select from any one of the items,” Morrell stated.
The gala is filled with “fun and exciting ways to raise funds,” Franklin said.
This year, the hospital needs a new steam sterilizer for its medical device reprocessing department.
“That’s the piece of equipment you want to be operating at peak capacity … it makes sure everything is sterile when going back out into use in the hospital,” she said.
According to Franklin, last year’s event, with a “Night at the Grammys” theme, was a huge success, raising around $225,000. The goal this time around is to raise between $200,000 to $250,000.
“Our gala decorating team takes these arenas and makes them an absolute delight of a venue,” she said. “I’ve had so many people come in and say ‘I can’t believe this is an arena.’”
“For me, it’s really neat to see our volunteer crew embrace the themes.”
Franklin has been with the foundation since the second gala.
“It started with 10 staff members who decided they wanted to do a little something,” she said. “[To] have a fun evening where they could dress up and maybe raise a little money for the hospital.”
The first gala took place at the Palmerston Community Centre, raising $32,000.
“The second year they made $60,000 and then it grew from there,” Franklin said.
She noted a few of the original organizers are still involved in the creation of recent galas.
“It’s so cool to see 22 galas, in that we’re still following very similar concepts to what they put together initially,” Franklin said.
The silent and live auctions will be filled with “such variety that almost everyone in the building can find something they would really like to have,” Morrell said.
Guests who want to donate but aren’t interested in the auctions can visit the “small equipment board.” The board will be filled with smaller hospital equipment guests can purchase that will then be used inside the hospital.
“It’s a really great win for someone who doesn’t need anything,” Franklin said.
Doors to the event open at 5pm, with dinner following at 6:30pm. Individual tickets are sold for $150 each and can be accessed by emailing pdhgalatickets@gmail.com.
“We really do appreciate all of the donors, different groups involved, volunteers and the guests that attend,” Morrell said.
“The event would not have lasted 22 years if we didn’t have the community input and assistance, so we are truly grateful for all the people involved.”
For more information about the foundation and the Starlight Gala visit pdhfoundation.ca.
