PROMEDICA Toledo Hospital celebrated its 150th anniversary on Sept. 12 at the Glass City Center ballroom which dazzled with ProMedica signature green linens and flowers and historical displays.
The more than 600 guests including current and past long-time employees; past and present board members, physicians/clinicians, and corporate and individual donors, ate from grazing stations scattered about as the Parallel Fifth band from the Detroit area played hit songs spanning decades and genres.
Christi Ansberg , vice president, philanthropy operations, ProMedica, welcomed the audience and noted that the historical displays showed how far Toledo Hospital has come over the past 150 years.
Dawn Buskey , president, ProMedica Toledo Hospital and the organization’s acute care division, thanked the thousands of past and present Toledo Hospital employees and generous sponsors and mission partners.
Arturo Polizzi , president and CEO, ProMedica, shared his appreciation for the community’s support over the years, saying that ProMedica was born out of Toledo Hospital.
Well over half of the audience members raised their hands if they were born at or had a child born at Toledo Hospital, so this anniversary is especially personal to them.
The big announcement was a new philanthropic campaign “The 1874 Campaign,” a nod to the year Toledo Hospital opened. The goal is to raise $18.74 million. Polizzi shared that a few generous gifts already kicked off the campaign. They were announced the previous week with Polizzi and ProMedica board chairman Bob LaClair at a trustee, medical staff, and notable community philanthropist celebration at Inverness Club. ProMedica medical staff gave $1.5 million, the Toledo Hospital and Russell J. Ebeid Children’s Hospital Auxiliary gave $350,000 and ProMedica board member Jim White gave $500,000.
THERE were many other fund-raisers in September:
NINETY-eight brave individuals helped The Victory Center rise to new heights, raising more than $145,000. They rappelled from a 16-story building that is 225 feet tall at 300 Madison Ave. in downtown Toledo, for the 8th annual Over the Edge for Victory presented by ThermaTru with Damschroder Roofing and other sponsors on Sept. 6.
The Victory Center holds the rights to host the adrenaline-pumping fund-raiser in a four-county area. To participate, $1,000 minimum raised was required. A professionally certified team provided training on site to ensure safety.
Seven thrill seekers climbed the high-rise including Itzel Krauss , a two-time survivor of breast cancer and the current Operations Manager at The Victory Center. Bob Mohr , one of the climbers, did it in 8 minutes and 11 seconds, then went on to get married less than 24 hours later.
Connie Spevak , a Victory Center volunteer, was the top individual fund-raiser at more than $10,000. Among the other brave souls were former NFL player Chris Morris , WTVG-TV, Channel 13's Erin Ashley and Claire Mitchell , local photographers Doug Hinebaugh , Kurt Nielsen , and Katie Wagner ; Billy Yark , Yark Automotive, teachers Kirsten Hinshaw and Amy Hansen ; Joan Browne Kose , ambassador for Taylor Automotive Group, and the Chick-fil-A Cow mascot. Board president Russ Wood and his daughter Ellen rappelled, too.
The VIP night on Sept. 5 was cut a short due to storms but fun was had with grazing stations by local restaurants, cotton candy, games, demos by the Imagination Station, face painting, a community art project, live music, and a raffle for diamond 14kt white gold earrings.
The Victory Center, founded in 1996, supports and educates cancer patients and those closest to them via free programs and services to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Visit www.thevictorycenter.org or call 419-531-7600.
THE 5th annual Sundresses and Big Hats Day Party fund-raiser was Sept. 8 at the Toledo Botanical Garden Crosby Conference Center. Distant Cousinz duo Corey Coley and Kaiden Chase provided the live entertainment along with DJ Steven Wolfe as guests enjoyed a charcuterie board, raspberry cheesecake, and beverages.
All of the guests sported lovely summer dresses and hats but the best dressed winner was Kenya Taylor who wore an oversized beige hat and an elegant flower sundress.
Door prizes and dancing added to the fun. Simply D'Vine Boutique owner Terri Cook was on site with her beautiful apparels and accessories.
Event organizer, Donnetta Carter , The Social Butterfly announced that this year's beneficiary was Bittersweet Farms who received a donation of $1,000 for programs and residential services and day programs for adults who have autism. Julie Champa , development director, spoke on the services that they provide and thanked everyone for their support. Thanks go to the sponsors Metroparks, Taylor Automotive Family and Adventurous Travel, and volunteers Nora Hallem and Shareese Norwood.
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