Mardi Gras celebration fittingly honors Dr. Wogensen while supporting the stroke program he helped elevate

Dr. Kenneth Wogensen, whose tireless efforts to earn Methodist Hospital accreditation as an advanced primary stroke center were so vitally important, will be honored Feb. 21 when old New Orleans comes to Arcadia in the form of Mardi Gras! 2012.

The 17th annual event will begin at 6 p.m. at Sirona's, Santa Anita Park, and will feature lively dancing as well as gourmet offerings from more than 20 of the San Gabriel Valley's finest restaurants. Proceeds from this special event will be used to support the hospital's lifesaving stroke program.

Co-chairs for the enjoyable and entertaining fundraising event, which each year is attended by hundreds of enthusiastic community leaders, physicians, local businesses and community members, will be Lindburgh McPherson and Sherri Taylor. The two are excited about what they expect will be a wonderful "beads and boas" celebration.

"Mardi Gras Committee members have put a lot of creative planning into the 2012 event," Lindburgh said. "We're really looking forward to a lively evening of celebration and purpose."

Sherri called upon the community to come out and support the event, which will give a significant boost to the hospital's increasingly visible stroke program.

"The Mardi Gras has brought joy to our community for many years," she said. "The entire event is shaping up to be a truly memorable evening."

We hope you will join us at Mardi Gras 2012 and help make it an evening to remember. For additional information or to be recognized as a sponsor in our invitation, please contact Gloria Rico at 626-821-2340 or mardigras@methodisthospital.org Sponsorships must be confirmed by Jan. 4, 2012 in order to appear in the invitation.