Winter 2009 - Arkansas Children's Hospital

AUXILIARY GROUPSCindy and Chip Murphy,2008 Miracle Ball co-chairs,welcome guests from thestage as emcee Lisa Fischer(left) looks on.Miracle2008Ball8The ballroom at Miracle Ball 2008 shimmered with delicate lighting,tables were covered with burgundy and gold linens and formalplace-settings, and the dance floor and stage were accented by crystalchandeliers and gold draping. It was an elegant evening in which tocelebrate miraculous health care.Children’s Hall on the ACH campus, a space that 364 days a year isa very non-descript, utilitarian meeting space, was the setting for thisyear’s gala. The 410 Miracle Ball guests enjoyed a gourmet meal,catered by Capers and were entertained by the Jim Johnson Orchestra.Miracle Ball is a joint project of the ACH Auxiliary and the ACHFoundation. The 2008 event net proceeds were $285,000. Event sponsorsare critical to making Miracle Ball a success, particularly Auxiliarypartners The Murphy Group and the Stella Boyle Smith Trust, as wellas presenting sponsors American Airlines and Mary Healey’s, and premiersponsors Glazer’s Distributors and Advanced Tissue.The silent auction, chaired by Tiffany and Daniel Robinson, raised$57,599. The live auction raised $77,200 and was chaired by Sharonand Kevin Lamb. Sharon and John Bale Jr. chaired the patron tablescommittee and in 2009 will co-chair the Miracle Ball.Two new fundraising activities were added to Miracle Ball this year.Mary Healey’s donated a ladies Rolex watch valued at $9,600 to raffle.The raffle raised $12,620, and the drawing was held duringMiracle Ball.A “Miracle Match” donation drive raised pledges toward the purchaseof a $34,000 Giraffe OmniBed, a piece of equipment used inthe neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Cindy and Chip Murphygave a $10,000 matching gift in honor of Cindy’s son, Toby Watkins,who was an NICU patient 32 years ago. With theMurphy match, the drive raised more than $42,000. Forevery pledge received, a stuffed giraffe was donated for ahospital patient.The 2009 Miracle Ball will be held Saturday, Dec.12.For more information about the event, contact AmyHarkins at 501-364-1440 or harkinsak@archildrens.org.8Special ThanksAuxiliary PartnersPresenting SponsorsPremier Sponsors14