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Last updated on Thursday, June 11, 2015
(BEDFORD) - On June 20, IU Health Bedford Hospital Foundation will host its first annual Boot-Scootin’ BBQ fundraiser gala at the Lawrence County 4H Fairgrounds to raise money for a new patient monitoring system.
This adults' night out will feature music from The Summertime Band, a full BBQ dinner and cash bar, a silent and live auction, line dancing, a western-themed photo booth, and more.
"The foundation board is excited to unveil this brand new event to help raise money for our hospital. When we started developing this, we wanted to breathe new life into a fundraising event that was losing momentum," Steve Kimbley, foundation president, said. "With the help of Emily Hawkins, who's really led the vision for this, and Debbie Patton with Debonair Designs, who's helped execute that vision, we ended up creating a completely new event altogether, with great auction items, a new ticket price, a new location and a new theme."
The silent and live auction will feature a range of items with varying starting bids. Some of the big ticket items include a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, an Apple Watch, and the biggest of all: four gold-level tickets and a VIP parking pass to the Rolling Stones concert at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 4.
Tickets for the BBQ are priced at $30 per person, $50 per couple or $200 per table of 8, which is lower than in the past in order to encourage more community members to attend. That strategy is working well for the group, as tickets are going fast. They hope to sell out, bringing a total of 400 guests to the fairground, an appropriate venue for the western-themed event.
"The response from the community so far has been overwhelming," Jolene Rayhill, foundation secretary/treasurer and IU Health team member, said. "Tickets sales are already double those from our last event, and we are still getting new reservations every day."
There has also been great support from local businesses, who are helping to sponsor the event, like Hawkins Bailey Warehouse, Westview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Smithville Communications, Bedford Federal Savings Bank, and more.
"Sponsorships are also double the amount from the last fundraising dinner we did in the fall of 2013," Rayhill said. "That's huge for us and we are so grateful to our community partners for getting involved."
As the date of the event gets closer, the foundation board and the planning committee continues to anticipate success.
"We just can't wait for June 20 to get here," Kimbley said. "We know all our guests are going to have a great time, and will be supporting a great cause in the process."
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the IU Health Bedford Hospital Foundation at (812) 275-1272.
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