Gloria Mitchell, Donna Rudzik and Polly Swatsell, 2015-2016 Lights of Life Campaign & Gala Chairs have officially passed the chairmanship torch (Lights of Life signature gala tree) off to the 2016-2017 Chairs, Sam and Sher Sevier.
Gloria Mitchell, Donna Rudzik and Polly Swatsell, 2015-2016 Lights of Life Campaign & Gala Chairs have officially passed the chairmanship torch (Lights of Life signature gala tree) off to the 2016-2017 Chairs, Sam and Sher Sevier. “2016 starts a new decade for the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation as we begin preparing for the 21st anniversary of the Lights of Life tree lighting and the 11th anniversary of the Gala. We are excited that Sam and Sher Sevier are going to chair the campaign this year. The Seviers have been a part of the medical community in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County for almost 35 years. Sam operated his own physical therapy clinic with Sher’s help for many years. He was also instrumental in setting up the current physical therapy department at Hopkins County Memorial Healthplex. Under the leadership of the Seviers we know we will have yet another successful and exciting year. Our committee chairs and volunteers always go above and beyond in their efforts to have a great campaign. Their dedication, along with the generous support of our community allows the foundation to fulfill its purpose: to help our hospital provide quality health care for the residents of Hopkins County,” said Bob Weaver, board chairman of the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation.
Sevier responded by saying, “Sher and I feel especially honored to be a part of this 11th Gala. We feel blessed to be in such a special community. The Gala and Foundation activities present a theme and time that brings all elements of our community together in support of the hospital and the medical resources so vital to every community. From the beginning we have felt there are many more capable and deserving people to lead this event, especially as we consider those who have gone before us. But looking back over 35 years and considering all that this community and the medical area specifically have meant to our professional and family lives we felt perhaps it was an opportunity to give something back. We also realize the Gala is not at all about the chairpersons but is about the generosity and unity of this special community.”
“The amount of work and planning that make up this effort is amazing and already many pieces of the elaborate puzzle that bring the Gala to fruition are being assembled into place. The projects to be funded will be a great asset to the hospital and its ability to serve at an even higher level,” said Sher Sevier.
“Polly, Gloria and I have been so honored and blessed to have co-chaired the Gala in January 2016. We enjoyed being a part of the celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Gala and the 20th Anniversary of Lights of Life campaign. It is with great excitement that we are passing the torch to Sam and Sher Sevier who will be an awesome couple to take the Gala to even greater heights in the upcoming year. We wish them luck and we assure our commitment and dedication to them and to the Foundation.” said Donna Rudzik on behalf of the trio.
“We are excited about the theme we have selected and will be sharing more about the theme after our meeting with the committee members in May. Eddie Deen will again be at the helm of a delicious meal and this year we have selected a new band that I think will be a great addition. We are working on a few new twists that we hope will add to an already special event. The Foundation Board has again set the goal for $250,000. That always seems so ambitious but the community and sponsors have always so graciously risen to the challenge. It is also exciting to see not only the special projects this money funds but also to realize the growing endowment that will perpetuate the Foundation’s ability to serve our medical community. With the changing medical environment this will provide a much-needed resource for the future. In addition to the Gala, there are several upcoming events throughout the year that are sponsored by the Foundation and we are looking forward to each of them,” added Sam Sevier.
“The sponsorship letters will go out in June to repeat sponsors because they get first right of refusal option. As in previous years, we are hopeful for and expect a quick response and commitment from the community,” said Sher Sevier.
The annual Lights of Life Campaign will kick-off on Tuesday, November 1st at 10a.m. in the hospital lobby. Memorial and honor donations of $25 can be made to help light the Lights of Life Christmas tree. Each donation is represented by a light on the Christmas tree that is placed in The Gardens at Memorial. The tree lighting celebration is scheduled for Thursday, December 1st at 6 p.m. in The Gardens.
The Lights of Life gala is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2017, 6:00 p.m. – 12:00 midnight, at the Civic Center and it promises to be another fun filled evening of fine dining, dancing to a great band and bidding on amazing live and silent auction items. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please call the Foundation office at 903-438-4799.
