FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
‘Unforgettable’ Crystal Ball deemed ‘another success’
ARCADIA – With this year’s “unforgettable” Crystal Ball now history, the numbers are in, and the exciting event was yet another success. Money raised from at Methodist Hospital’s 23rd annual fundraiser was estimated to be just shy of a half of million dollars.
The 870 guests at the Pasadena Convention Center on October 13 enjoyed Natalie Cole’s classy performance, along with an elegant dinner and silent and live auctions. Of the $470,000 total raised for the hospital’s elite stroke program, $104,000 was donated by guests that evening alone.
The glittering gala honored former hospital president and CEO Dennis Lee and his wife, Carolyn, for their years of support for the hospital and the community.
“It was both gratifying and inspiring to witness first-hand the community coming together to financially support the hospital and to honor Dennis and Carolyn Lee, who have contributed greatly to the long-term success of the hospital,” event co-chair Peggy Cherng said.
Cherng’s co-chair John Wuo added, “It has been truly an honor and pleasure to work with Peggy and to honor Dennis and Carolyn for their contributions and commitment to the hospital and our community. I want to thank all the committee members for their tireless efforts in making sure we had a successful event. Most of all, I want to thank each person who attended Crystal Ball. Without your support, we would not have had such a great event.”
Among the exciting auction items: a haircut for Dennis Lee, a private jet trip, sporting packages and accommodations at the Canyon Suites Resort and Spa at the Phoenician, as well as a personal meeting with Natalie Cole following her performance.
Grand sponsors for the evening were: the Honorable Michael and Christine Antonovich, Angela Y. Fu, Cole and Cindy Harris; Andrew and Peggy Cherng, John and Jane Wuo; Cherng Family Trust; Chang-Huan (C.H.) and Haily Hsueh; Panda Restaurant Group, Inc.; and Mickey and Lee Segal, and Alan and Sandy Whitman.
This year’s proceeds support Methodist Hospital’s stroke program, designated an advanced primary stroke center for Los Angeles County by The Joint Commission and recent recipient of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.
An inspiring video featured stroke survivor Dane Warner and his wife, Jill, talking about their frightening experience and the great response from the Methodist Hospital stroke team.
“Any event like the Crystal Ball is the result of the work of many hands and hours of dedication and I’m very grateful to our co-chairs and committee,” said Methodist Hospital Foundation President Michael Driebe. “This event has become the premiere gala in the San Gabriel Valley. In the last two years alone, we have raised over a million dollars after expenses and we couldn’t do it without our volunteers, sponsors and guests.”
About Methodist Hospital
Founded in 1903, Methodist Hospital is a not-for-profit hospital licensed for 596 beds serving Arcadia and surrounding communities. Services include comprehensive acute care such as medical, surgical, perinatal, oncology, intensive care and complete cardiovascular services, including open-heart surgery. Methodist Hospital is an approved STEMI cardiac center, a certified stroke center and a center of excellence in bariatric services.
The hospital’s cancer center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Methodist Hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission, which accredits and certifies more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. For more information, visit methodisthospital.org.
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