Highland's Annual Gala to Benefit Radiation Oncology

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Highland Hospital’s seventh annual Gala will be held at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Themed “An Evening of Friends, A Celebration in the Irish Tradition,” the evening will feature The Dady Brothers, Róisin Dubh, Irish dancing and The Skycoasters. Proceeds will benefit Radiation Oncology at Highland, which will launch a $2 million renovation scheduled to begin in March. Designed with patients in mind, the new space will improve patient access and provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere to patients who receive daily radiation cancer treatments.

Kicking off the evening will be the Dady Brothers from Rochester. Joe and John Dady have entertained audiences across the United States, Canada and Ireland. They are well known for their musical style, which incorporates country, bluegrass, folk and Irish. The versatile duo plays a variety of instruments, including banjo, bodhran fiddle, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, penny whistle and uilleann pipes. Also headlining the event is Róisin Dubh, comprised of student musicians from the East Rochester Junior/Senior High School. The group performs traditional and contemporary music of Ireland. Since 2001, Róisin Dubh has performed more than 250 times, released three albums, hosted seven workshops by All-Ireland Champion musicians and shared the stage with some of the top Irish musicians from the region and the world.

Another highlight will be the presentation of the Highland Foundation Heritage Award. The highest honor awarded by the Foundation, the Heritage Award honors individuals or organizations that play a significant role in the life of Highland and the community. Recipients are selected based on their gifts of time, talent and financial support. Mayor Thomas Richards and his wife, Betty, are this year’s recipients of the Heritage Award. Mayor Richards served on the Highland Board of Directors from 1992 to 1996. The couple’s contributions to Highland advance its mission to provide excellent health care to patients and their families.

The evening also will include a silent and live auction, dinner and dancing with The Skycoasters. Ticket information is available at (585) 341-0530.