The night started with appetizers and supper, along with tables filled with silent auction items up for bids. Funds were also raised throughout the night by way of 50/50 draw and live auction.
Foundation president Noreen Brousseau was among the first to speak to the crowd, thanking people for having "chosen" to support the hospital.
"Thank you to everyone who has stepped up," she said, acknowledging the foundation board, and hospital staff who offer their time to the fundraiser.
She noted that she agreed with the belief that people who give to fundraising events do so as an act of kindness, not because they believe they will need the facility one day, but because they realize it will benefit others.
"The items, money, time (is) all given in kindness because we all care about each other," said Brousseau.
Following the event, Brousseau again offered her thanks, saying the foundation is just "so happy. We're so pleased." While an exact number of funds raised was unavailable Monday morning, Brousseau said the foundation was "feeling pretty good" about meeting the $113,000 goal.
Michelle Blanchette, site manager at the St. Therese Health Care Centre, also spoke to the crowd on Saturday night, acknowledging the vision to keep health care a priority in St. Paul. The first hospital fundraiser gala was first held in 2007, but the foundation has existed since 1990.
"We've come a long way since 1990," said Blanchette. Last year, about $99,000 was raised at the gala.
Dr. Albert Harmse, acting North Zone medical director, was on hand, and shared his thoughts on the fundraiser, from a medical perspective.
He noted that "there's a lot of turmoil" when it comes to medical politics right now, and there simply isn't additional funding for a lot of things needed at the hospital. While larger urban areas have big platforms to fundraise, "this (gala) is our little platform" where people can offer their support directly to the St. Paul hospital.
"It's for our people, our community," he said of the fundraising efforts.
This year, some of the equipment on the wish list includes items for physiotherapy, and items used for group programming. Sharon Winik, of Allied Health, explained to the crowd what types of programs are in place already, and what they hope to do in the future in St. Paul. Group programs around arthritis, cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation already take place. A falls prevention program is in the works, but more equipment and a new space is required for the program to move ahead, she explained.
Closing off the speeches, a short presentation was played on the overhead projector, speaking about the impacts that equipment purchases have had on local residents. Stephanie and Andy Brodziak have three young sons. Their two oldest were both diagnosed with congenital spherocytosis, a condition that affects red blood cells and can result in severe jaundice.
When their first two sons were born, they had to seek medical treatment elsewhere. But, with the birth of their third son less than a year ago, they had the peace of mind of knowing there was equipment in St. Paul that could help them, if needed. Their youngest was not diagnosed with the condition.
A number of financial presentations took place during the gala, including $4,100 donated by the St. Paul Legion, $4,800 from the Palliative Care Association, $5,000 from CNRL, $5,000 from long-term care resident Richard Gibson, $10,000 from the Hospital Auxiliary, and a donation of $20,000 was presented from the St. Paul Ukrainian Men's Club.
It was also noted that the St. Paul Elks donated $3,600, Lakeland Family Eyecare donated $2,000, Servus Credit Union donated $1,500 and St. Brides Trading Post donated $1,000. A number of other smaller donations were also received.
Ventriloquist Damien James offered entertainment to the sold out crowd, which received plenty of laughs, followed by a live auction.
