Pat McClelland, Chairman - Arkansas Children's Hospital

AUXILIARY GROUPSMiracle BallMembers of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliaryand the ACH Foundation proved recently that they couldtransform a very plain meeting room into an elegant ballroomworthy of guests in evening attire, gourmet dining andfine musical entertainment. They also proved that they areflexible and have a sense of humor.The inaugural Miracle Ball, a joint project of the Auxiliaryand the Foundation, jokingly became “the fanciest tailgateparty ever,” as organizers tried to juggle presenting an elegantblack tie ball on the same night the ArkansasRazorbacks were playing in the SEC championship footballgame.A discreet bank of televisions by the restrooms and severalby the bar were not enough to satisfy the hardcore fanswhen the game got particularly exciting, so the audiovisualteam scrambled to get the game on two 12-foot screens bythe stage. Suddenly, 360 elegantly clad people were watchingthe football game while eating their gourmet meal catered byCapers.Once the game finished (sadly, with a loss by Arkansas),the evening got back on track with a welcome by Auxiliaryand hospital officials, a live auction and entertainment byHunter Sullivan and his Swing Band.In 2006, the ACH Auxiliary celebrated its 40th year. Incelebration of the volunteer group’s long history, and inACHF board member Ray Hobbs and wife Debbie, of Rogers, withACH Foundation president John Bel (right).PHOTO BY INVITING ARKANSASFrom left: Mark Saviers, ACH and ACH Research Institute boardmember; Vicki Saviers, ACH Foundation board member; Dr. SallyBates; and Dr. Jonathan Bates, ACH president and CEO.preparation for the hospital’s approaching centennial, theAuxiliary wanted to create an elegant way to focus on the legacyof miraculous care at ACH; and so, the Miracle Ball wasborn.The Miracle Ball was held at ACH on December 2. Auxiliarymembers felt it was important to host the new event on theACH campus — providing an opportunity to invite their dearestfriends into their home.Sold out months before its December date, the Miracle Ballwas a grand success, attended by many friends of the hospitalas well as community leaders.Frances Buchanan, an Auxiliary member and ACHFoundation board member, served as the Miracle Ball liaison.Elizabeth Campbell and Carol Stephens served as co-chairs.Cindy Murphy chaired the live auction and Rebecca McDowellthe silent auction.A great deal of the ball’s financial success can be credited tothe early support of event sponsors, including the lead sponsorsThe Stephens Group and the Stella Boyle Smith Trust.Presenting sponsors included North Point Toyota, AmericanAirlines and Mary Healey’s. Glazer’s Distributors of Arkansaswas a premier sponsor.The Miracle Ball was so well received, it will become anannual event. The 2006 ball net proceeds of $175,000 will gotoward the creation of an endowed chair to support the childmaltreatment program at ACH.10