ARCADIA, Calif. (February 15, 2018) – The 23rd annual Mardi Gras Food Fest was held Tuesday night at Sirona’s in Santa Anita Park in Arcadia and the evening was filled with great fun and entertainment. More than 800 guests attended the celebration, which raised $145,000 for the new Joint & Spine Pavilion at Methodist Hospital and is scheduled to open this spring.

In honor their selfless dedication and hard work on behalf of patients and families living in the San Gabriel Valley, long-time Methodist Hospital orthopedic surgeon John Quigley, MD, and his wife, Margaret, served as King and Queen of the Mardi Gras Food Fest 2018.

“We are honored and grateful to be part of such a wonderful community,” said Dr. Quigley, who is a San Gabriel Valley native. “Mardi Gras has always offered friends and supporters of the hospital an opportunity to gather in a comfortable and jovial setting to enjoy one another’s company.” The Quigleys said they were “extremely appreciative” of this year’s event co-chairs Sherri Taylor alongside cardiologist Stephen Soldo, MD, and his wife Patty who, coincidentally, were the honorees at last year’s event.

The Methodist Hospital Joint & Spine Pavilion will be staffed by specially-trained nurses and therapists and, will provide a wellness-based approach to care and recovery. Currently, physicians at Methodist Hospital provide a full range of orthopedic care, including total joint replacement, spine surgery, fracture care, and physical rehabilitation. Establishment of the Joint & Spine Pavilion will enable Methodist Hospital to provide customized orthopedic care for a life more active.

The Mardi Gras celebration was organized by the Methodist Hospital Foundation and featured gourmet foods from more than 30 of the San Gabriel Valley’s most popular restaurants, as well as offering libations, a festive parade, fun costumes, dancing, live music, an exciting silent auction, and mysterious raffle boxes all for a great cause. The event also included dancing to the ’80z All-Stars live band, and the traditional Mardi Gras parade led by the Arcadia High School pep band.

About Methodist Hospital: Founded in 1903, Methodist Hospital of Southern California is a full-service community hospital with 348 licensed beds. The hospital offers advanced cardiovascular services including cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology, and open heart surgery. Los Angeles County has designated Methodist Hospital as both a heart attack and stroke receiving center as well an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics. The hospital also offers a variety of services in orthopedics, neurosurgery, obstetrics, and many other medical specialties. More than 50,000 patients are treated annually in the Emergency Department, while the hospital typically has more than 16,000 patient admissions each year.

Media Contact: Brian Greene, 626-354-1484 - Brian.Greene@methodisthospital.org

Hospital Foundation Board Member and Arcadia City Councilman Tom Beck, Hospital President & CEO Dan Ausman, and former Hospital and Foundation Board Chair Mike Hoover

Mardi Gras Co-Chairs Sherri Taylor with Dr. Stephen Soldo and wife Patty

Mardi Gras Committee Members gather on stage

Mardi Gras King and Queen Dr. John Quigley and wife Margaret, with former patient and longtime hospital benefactor Lilah Stangeland