Rogers Memorial Hospital

    

The Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation raises financial support for the patients we serve. Our major fundraising event is the Celebrate the Light Gala. Committee members, board members, and volunteers work hard to make this event a success, spending hours of time in planning and organizing. This year we raised $143,000! The Foundation is proud to support the hope, help and healing of Rogers Memorial Hospital.

"The Story of the Gala Weekend"

The Hyatt Regency downtown Milwaukee was buzzing with excitement as a record-breaking 325 guests arrived at the 2008 Celebrate the Light Gala! In the atrium, cadets from St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy were decked out in their dress-grey uniforms and were busy selling raffle tickets for a beautiful diamond pendant necklace. Meanwhile, Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund, our guest speaker, was mingling and signing autographs. In the Executive Ballroom were 150 auction items and 26 awesome gift baskets that were put together by employees of Rogers Memorial Hospital.

At 7:15 p.m., guests were invited into the Grand Ballroom for the dinner and program. Steve "The Homer" True served as the emcee and auctioneer for the evening. He introduced Marion Heinz, Executive Director of the Foundation, and Don Becker, Chairman of the Foundation Board, who welcomed everyone and acknowledged our sponsors and volunteers. Marion introduced The Reverend Gary Liedtke, who gave the invocation and shared the personal story of his son and the life changing help he received at Rogers.

For the past 3 years, the RMH Foundation has honored individuals who have had a significant impact on Rogers by giving their philanthropic support and encouraging others to do the same.
This year, lifelong resident of Oconomowoc, Mac Dorn, President Emeritus of First Bank Financial Centre, was our honoree. Mac has been a good friend of Rogers and a faithful donor. He is an example of one person whose life is dedicated to making our community a better place. He walks the talk.

A lovely dinner followed, and then before long it was time for our guest speaker, Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund’s presentation. In recovery from her own eating disorder, she talked sincerely about the story of her recovery. Today, Kirsten is using her national status to build awareness of eating disorders and their devastating affects on the lives of its victims. She is committed to working towards healthcare and insurance reform pertaining to the treatment of eating disorders, and is in the process of starting the Kirsten Haglund Foundation, which will help fund eating disorders’ treatment for those that could not otherwise afford it. The evening concluded with a game of "Heads or Tails" with a Wii as the winning prize. The Live Auction offered some exciting items for bid including several vacation spots, dinners, and a chauffeured ride in a Peterbilt truck. A final auction item was introduced by Hanna Louks, UW Madison student and former EDC patient. She spoke of the importance of getting treatment and of her own eating disorder and then our auctioneer invited guests to contribute towards our scholarship fund. A total of $12,800 was raised for this item. One of our guests was the lucky raffle winner of a sparkling and beautiful diamond necklace. And then, too soon, the 2008 Gala was officially ended.

Many thanks to our co-chairs Becky Bathke and Cindy Becker, and all who made the 2008 Celebrate the Light Gala a success!

2008 Celebrate the Light Committee

    

Many Thanks to Our Event Sponsors!

 

 

Hors d'oeuvres and decorations underwritten by the
RMH Medical Staff. Invitation design donated by DBA Marketing Communications. Program underwritten by Accounting Services Unlimited. Decorations underwritten by Dr. Crain and Margaret Bliwas. Photography underwritten by First Weber Group Foundation, Inc.