Pictured: (L to R) – 2015-2016 Lights of Life Campaign Chairs: Gloria Mitchel, Polly Swatsell, Donna Rudzik
CHRISTUS Health Executives: Ernie Sadau, CEO, Gene Woods, President & Chief Operating Officer,
Jeff Puckett, Executive VP Strategic Alliances and Group Operations, Jeff Potter, VP Strategic Alliances and Business Development
Donna Rudzik, Gloria Mitchell and Polly Swatsell, the 2015-2016 Lights of Life Campaign chairs, made a road trip to Irving to CHRISTUS Health corporate offices on Tuesday, September 29, 2015. As previously announced CHRISTUS Health committed to be a $20,000 DIAMOND Sponsor of the 10th anniversary campaign. “We are so grateful for their generous sponsorship commitment and especially grateful they took time out of their busy schedules to not only present us with the check but to give us a tour of their beautiful offices. We are so blessed by their commitment to the campaign, our hospital and this community” said Donna Rudzik.
“We are so thankful for this opportunity to chair the campaign and to have three DIAMOND sponsors is just amazing” added Polly Swatsell. “When we started planning the 20th anniversary of the campaign and the 10th anniversary of the gala we thought we would add the $20,000 DIAMOND Sponsorship level in celebration of this anniversary year. Our goal was to get one $20,000 sponsor. We never dreamed we would end up with three DIAMOND Sponsors” continued Swatsell.
“Carriage House Manor, Sheila and Arvis Tanton and GSC, Inc, Mickey and Barbara McKenzie, our local generous sponsors, who have contributed to the campaign since it started in 1996, are now joined by CHRISTUS Health to take the campaign to an over-the-top status” added Gloria Mitchell. We are just sorta blown away”, Mitchell continued.
“These commitment are so exciting for the Foundation. For this to be the first time we’ve offered a $20,000 sponsorship level and then to end up with three is a little overwhelming and definitely exciting” commented Jackie Thornton, Foundation Director. “These ladies are definitely overachievers and I’m just trying to stay up with them”, continued Thornton. “We are very thankful for all our sponsors who have committed their financial support to the campaign. Without the support of this generous community the Foundation would not be where it is today. We are both blessed and humbled” said Thornton.
“The gala has been sold out since August 1st and people are still calling to add their names to the growing waiting list” stated Jackie Thornton, Foundation Director. “All I can say is WOW!”
“Never stopping but rather always raising the bar, we are heavy into our many mini-events. Because we have limited space at the Civic Center and in order to reach our $250,000 goal we had to create several small events” continued Thornton. In the spring we hosted our first Sassy Classy afternoon tea and will have our second one on October 8, 4-6p.m. at City Hall. On September 17th Lou Nell’s hosted a great Style Show to benefit the campaign and this Saturday, October 3rd we will have our 2nd Lights of Life Half Marathon,” continued Thornton. Then don’t forget the fun Fly Your Flag bidding on Thunder Country Radio on November 10th, where alumni can bid to have their school alma-mater’s flag flown on the courthouse flagpole. Along with bidding is the Fly Your Flag lunch, 11a.m. – 1p.m. that will be held in front of Alliance bank on November 10th after the morning flag bidding is over”, added Donna Rudzik.
On November 3rd we have the 20th anniversary of the Lights of Life Kick-off, which is where it all began. People have been making $25 donations in “honor or memory” of someone special to help light the Lights of Life Christmas tree at the hospital” added Thornton. “The first campaign was chaired by Chad and Rhonda Young and over $15,000 was raised that first year to support Hospice at Memorial. I’d say we’ve come a long way baby since that first $25 donation”.
As we continue to raise funds to help the purchase cutting edge equipment that not only benefits the hospital but the community the funds raised through the 2015-2016 campaign will be used to purchase;
- Six LUCAS CPR devices for EMS which will provide the EMS Department the tools and abilities they need to improve survival rates during cardiac arrest. The LUCAS CPR provides consistent and quality chest compressions without the need to stop compressions to perform other clinical procedures.
- And additional funds will be added to the Foundation “Leaving a Legacy” Endowment Fund.
For more information about the 2015-2016 Lights of Life campaign and gala and mini-events, please call the Health Care Foundation office, 903-438-4799. We hope you will join us as we work hard to make a difference for the hospital and the community. (Article courtesy of Jackie Thornton)
