Breese, IL – The HSHS St. Joseph’s Foundation will host its first Gala event on Friday, September 15, at Hidden Lake Winery in support of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese. The event will be Denim and Diamonds, with decorations and food being tied to the theme. Attendees are able to dress up, dress down, or find the perfect combination of jeans and bling.
 
2017 has been a monumental year for the HSHS St. Joseph’s Foundation. The first capital campaign since 1969 was launched with great success and continues through this fall. The campaign will support hospital improvements, which were identified to enhance the new surgery center addition opening in November. The capital campaign has a goal of $1,000,000, which will be used to renovate the Emergency Department and Inpatient Rooms, as well as purchase new equipment, like 3D mammography, which is the most advanced equipment available for women’s breast health. The money will also be used to build a meditation garden on the hospital grounds.
 
“This was the perfect time to launch a new annual fundraising event and celebrate the enormous success of the campaign and the support we have received from the community,” said Amy Liefer, Foundation Director. “We are very fortunate to have so many people supporting our hospital. We are confident we will raise the full $1,000,000 to complete the projects identified, and this event will help us get there.”
 
This year’s Denim and Diamonds Gala is being sponsored by several community businesses.  Our 10 Karat sponsor is Poettker Construction; the 5 Karat sponsors are Premier Pathology Services, Southern OB/GYN Associates and The Michael Donnewald Foundation.  Our 3 Karat sponsors are Becker Jewelers and Legacy Place – Breese. 
 
This year’s 1 Karat sponsors include Breese Dental Care, Community Bank of Trenton, Country Financial – Theresa Richards & Keith Wilken, Dairy King, FCB Banks, First National Bank, Germantown Trust & Savings Bank, HMG Engineers, Hidden Lake Winery, Knights of Columbus Niemeyer Agency – Jeff Niemeyer & Matt Albers, MEDS, Mederi Caretenders, The Design Studio, The Maschhoffs, The Villas at St. James, and Town & Country Florist.  We have also received donations from Breese Motor Sales, Comprehensive Care Pharmacy, Dana Beckmann, Hoelscher Interiors, Jean Tebbe, Kues Bros. Realty & Auction, Maribeth Detmer, Quad County Ready Mix, Rooter’s Asphalt, The Equity, Third Street Sweets and Trico Development & Realty.  We are sincerely grateful for their generosity as this would not be possible without them. 
 
This first time event will start with cocktails and appetizers, a diamond pull and 10x raffle.
Dinner at the event will include beef filet with peppered red wine sauce and a chicken breast with mushroom Marsala.  Entertainment for the evening will be provided by Musicology, a popular duo from the St. Louis area. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the event running until
11 p.m. 
 
“This event will be fun for everyone. People can dress up or come in their blue jeans and boots and feel right at home,” said Lisa Smith, Foundation Manager. “We are really looking forward to a great night that will support a great hospital.”
 
Area residents and community advocates are invited to purchase tickets to support the fundraising efforts of the HSHS St. Joseph’s Foundation at its inaugural Denim and Diamonds Gala on Friday, Sept. 15.  Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased by calling the Foundation Office at 618-526-5698 or email lisa.smith@hshs.org.