With a sizzling South Beach theme, the 43rd Annual Night of Gold Ball raised a record $605,000 for John C. Lincoln Health Network community and hospital programs.
More than 750 leaders in the business, professional and medical community joined together on March 24, 2012 at The Phoenician to celebrate the spring tradition, hosted by the John C. Lincoln Health Foundation Guild.
Don Slager, CEO of Republic Services, with his wife Kim, kicked off the Fund-A-Need paddle raiser by matching the first $30,000 in donations.
"The funds raised at this event will go directly to life changing and life saving programs for our most vulnerable," said Marcia Mintz, John C. Lincoln Health Foundation CEO.
"This year's exceptional philanthropic commitment and support of the Foundation will impact the lives of thousands of children and teens in our community. John C. Lincoln Health Foundation is grateful and honored to be the recipient of your philanthropy. Thank you for your continued trust and generosity."
Proceeds — a 10 percent increase over the 2011 edition of the event — will help save lives by supporting important programs throughout the John C. Lincoln Health Network, including the Level I Trauma Center at North Mountain, the Breast Health and Research Center, the Virginia G. Piper Center for Pediatric Excellence at Deer Valley, and Desert Mission community programs.
As the guest speaker, Don Slager, CEO of Republic Services, thanked Desert Mission and the Network for allowing his company to make a difference in the community through volunteerism and fundraising. He then kicked off the fund-a-need live auction with a pledge to match the first $30,000 raised.
The live auction ultimately raised 33 percent more than the previous year, directing $283,000 toward children's programs, including emergency food, health and dental care, crisis prevention and pediatric emergency care.
Cheryl Melocik served as chair of the ball. Generous underwriters helped make the ball possible. Major event sponsors included:
- Partners: Cardiovascular Consultants, Ltd.
- Sustainers: Delta Dental of Arizona, Ensemble DevMan, John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Medical Staff, John C. Lincoln North Mountain Medical Staff, David and Joan Lincoln, Medical Diagnostic Imaging Group, Ltd. and W.D. Manor Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
- Benefactors: APS, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, DPR Construction, Hyde Park, Independent Hospitalists and Alliance Medical Clinic, Juniper Networks, NetApp and Trace 3, JWA Consulting, North Phoenix Heart Center, North Mountain Radiology Group, Snell & Wilmer and Wells Fargo.
The Guild's next fund-raising event is the Lincoln Guild Invitational golf tournament, which is scheduled for Sept. 18, 2012. For more information about the Invitational, visit JCL.com/golf.