Thousands Raised at Annual Gala
St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Gala Presenting Sponsors, MedStar Shah Medical Group, receive a special gift during the 2015 event. Pictured from left to right are V.K. Shah, MD; Jennifer Blake-Meyer, Chair of the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation; Ila Shah, MD; and William Tanner, MD.
Donations Support Hospital, Students
The St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, a group that supports MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, celebrated its 28th annual gala on Nov. 20, 2015, at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department social hall, bringing health care champions in the region together for dining, dancing, and donations.
The foundation netted more than $145,000 this year at the gala, regularly the foundation’s largest annual fundraiser. Donations to the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation are used to fund scholarships for Southern Maryland students who are pursuing careers in health care and help support capital expansion projects and equipment.
G&H Jewelers donated a 2.5 carat diamond necklace and earrings set which was raffled off during the 28th Annual St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Gala. Pictured from left to right are Mat and David Harris from G&H Jewelers; Dr. Jeremy Tucker; Dr. Karen Ann Tucker, winner of the raffle; and Jennifer Blake-Meyer, chair of the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.
“We are thrilled to partner with so many community members and businesses in the common goal of ensuring high-quality health care continue to be available to the residents of Southern Maryland,” said Jennifer Blake-Meyer, chairwoman of the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation. “The gala is not just a fundraiser for us, it is also a time to come together and celebrate what we have accomplished as well as what we hope to accomplish in the coming year. It is an opportunity to say thank you to all of our supporters and to build solid relationships on which we hope to continue to build a strong foundation of support for our local hospital.”
Special recognition was given this year to the event’s Presenting Sponsor ($25,000), MedStar Shah Medical Group, as well as Premiere Sponsors ($15,000), Associates in Radiation Medicine and G&H Jewelers. G&H donated a diamond and earrings set which was raffled off during the event. Diamond Sponsors ($10,000) for 2015 were AMEWAS Inc., The Cherry Cove Group, MedStar Health, MEP Health – Making People Better, and Christine Wray and John Felicitas. An additional 56 businesses and community members generously sponsored the event at Platinum ($6,000), Gold ($4,000), Silver ($2,500), and Bronze ($850) levels.
Special thanks for the evening were extended to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard, Jan and Tom Barnes, ServoPro of St. Mary’s and Calvert, graphic arts students from the James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center, Hargrove Inc., Something Special by Tracy, and Tom and Carol Davis of Your Journey Studios.
Members of the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation are, from left, Vince Whittles; Jennifer Blake-Meyer; Ric Braam, Vice President, MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital; Christine Wray, President, MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital; Rick Tepel; Shane Mattingly; Cindy Greb; and Bill Moody.
The 28th annual foundation gala featured a James Bond “Diamonds Are Forever” theme in coordination with the release of the latest Bond film, “Spectre,” which opened in movie theaters in early November. Greeting guests as they arrived at the Hollywood social hall were three cars similar to those featured in various Bond films loaned to the foundation for the evening by Jennifer and Tim Meyer (1997 BMW Z3 Roadster), Pete Innocenti (1994 Lotus Esprit S4), and Mike Hall (1973 Mustang Mach 1).
Surrounding guests who entered the hall were iconic images of Bond characters including villains, protégés, and Bond women. Decorated in an elegant black, white and red theme, the evening’s three-course meal was catered by Ken’s Creative Kitchen in Annapolis and music was provided by the band Nocturne.
Visit facebook.com/medstarstmarys to view photos taken at the event.
MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital (MSMH) is a full-service community hospital, delivering state-of-the-art emergency, acute inpatient and outpatient care in Leonardtown, Maryland. Nestled in a waterside community, MedStar St. Mary’s provides advanced technology with a dedication to excellence in all services provided. The not-for-profit hospital has been named among the nation’s Top 100 Hospitals™ and is an eight time recipient of the prestigious Delmarva Medicare Excellence Award. In addition, MSMH received the Maryland Performance Excellence award at the Platinum level in 2014 – the highest in the state. Our staff is committed to providing quality and compassionate medical care for all patients by coupling innovation with our outstanding team of Medical Staff members, associates and volunteers. Visit MedStarStMarys.org to learn more.
For more information and one-click access to a full list of resources available at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, visit their Leader Page.
