Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeThis year's Gala D'Vine fundraising event exceeded its sponsors' goals.
Big time.
The Kennewick General Hospital Foundation netted just over $140,000, bettering the organizers' goal by 40 percent.
The event, honoring foundation member Mike McWhorter, was at the Three Rivers Convention Center. It found contributors were more than generous:
w Hospital supporters contributed $60,100 at the live auction.
w They contributed $22,848 in the silent auction and raffles.
w The Raise the Paddle event generated $34,450 to be used to equip the innovative new Joint Replacement Center, scheduled to open at KGH in January.
It will be a one of a kind program in Eastern Washington. Sponsorships and ticket sales accounted for the rest of the money donated. Red Lion Hotel Corporation was the event's major sponsor at $5,000.
Twenty percent of the money raised at Gala D'Vine will be added to the Foundation's endowment account, which supports emerging needs for programs, services and equipment at KGH.
The remaining contributions from the event will fund a new Good Samaritan Program, created to assist patients and their families facing special needs. The program will provide vouchers and gift certificates for lodging, transportation, clothing, food and other basic amenities to KGH patients and their families in crisis.
Money from Gala also will update the Jim Mokler Living Wall and support on-going programs and services at KGH that enhance patient care.
Editorials are the consensus of the Tri-City Herald editorial board.
Editorial board members are Rufus Friday, publisher; Chris Sivula, editorial page editor; Ken Robertson, executive editor; Matt Taylor, contributing editor; Lori Lancaster, editorial writer; Shelly Norman, editorial writer and Jack Briggs, retired publisher
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