Golisano Children's Hospital Gala
Golisano Children’s Hospital Gala
This year's highly-anticipated Gala will take place on Oct. 19 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. The night to remember will begin at 6 p.m. Sponsorships and individual tickets are available. Live and silent auction items are needed. Please contact Betsy Findlay at (585) 273-5933 for more information. We look forward to seeing you there and invite you to read about last year's special 25th anniversary Gala.
Golisano Children's Hospital Gala Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Almost 900 elegantly-dressed guests gathered at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012 for the 25th annual Golisano Children’s Hospital Gala. The storybook-themed evening focused on the history of the children’s hospital and Department of Pediatrics, honoring five of the department’s chairs – the late David Smith, M.D., Robert J. Haggerty, M.D., Robert A. Hoekelman, M.D., Elizabeth R. McAnarney, M.D., and Nina F. Schor, M.D., Ph.D. – for their medical achievements in pediatric medical care, both regionally and nationally.
The event kicked-off with a 6 p.m. cocktail hour and continued into the night with a fairy-tale-like dinner program. Keeping with the storybook-theme, the program was emceed by ‘Little Miss Muffet,’ otherwise known as Howie Jacobson, children’s hospital board vice chair. Howie, in a dress and bonnet, sat on a tuffet and told the magical tale of the children’s hospital and Department of Pediatrics. Attendees listened while surrounded by popular storybook characters, including Curious George, the Cat in the Hat, the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eloise, and Wilbur.
Although this year’s Gala focused on remembering the past, it also encouraged guests to look ahead to the future. The live and silent auctions of the night allowed them to contribute to the story and play their own role in a “happily ever after” ending. The almost $820,000 raised will greatly impact the new children’s hospital, in addition to many of its programs.
The funds raised that night are part of Golisano Children’s Hospital’s $100 million campaign. The campaign was launched publicly in October 2011 and supports major enhancements to several pediatric programs. The effort is part of the University of Rochester Medical Center’s $650 million campaign and the overall $1.2 billion goal of The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester.
Special thanks to our major Gala sponsors:
• Presenting Sponsor: The Cabot Group
• Diamond Sponsors: Tops Markets and William & Mildred Levine Foundation
• Platinum Plus Sponsors: Hammer Packaging and Rainaldi Brothers, Inc.
• Platinum Sponsors: Abbott’s Frozen Custard, DGA Builders, Jackson Welding Supply Co., Inc., and LeChase Construction
• Gold Sponsors: John W. Danforth Company, JT Mauro Co., MVP Healthcare, and O’Connell Electric