The focus will be on fun at Saturday night's Missouri
Delta Medical Center Benefit Ball. But it's fun for a
good cause as the proceeds will help fund the Sikeston
Jaycees Kidney Dialysis Unit at the hospital. And more
importantly, it provides an opportunity for the entire
community to be a part of the growth and success of
the hospital.
Held every other year, the Benefit Ball gives all
Sikeston residents an opportunity to play a role in
the hospital's growing list of services. Each Ball
selects a specific area of hospital need and the
proceeds from the event help to fund that project. In
1999, the Ball generated $42,000 for the Medical
Scholarship Loan Program.
Co-chairs for Saturday's event are Felecia Blanton and
Amy Blanton. But these two dynamic co-chairs are
assisted by 125 volunteers who take care of the
thousands of details required to make the event a
success. Without the hard work of these volunteers,
the Ball would never become a reality.
Community hospitals are shrinking in numbers
nationally and it speaks well of our community that
local volunteers and community supporters are taking
such an active role in the development of the local
medical facilities. Saturday's event is an ideal
opportunity to combine an entertaining and fun evening
and an extremely worthwhile cause. By any definition,
that's a win-win situation.
Saturday's Benefit Ball will feature superb
entertainment, an outstanding meal and the opportunity
to bid on over 100 items donated by Sikeston-area
businesses. All proceeds will help fund the new
dialysis unit that features state-of-the-art
technology. If you combine the business donations, the
volunteer participation and the public turnout, the
event will involve literally thousands of Sikeston
residents. That too speaks well of the community.
Tickets are still available for Saturday's Benefit
Ball. You can call 472-7601 for more information. But
rest assured, Saturday's event is among the best
examples of community involvement for a worthwhile
cause. It shows the strength of the community and the
popular support for the needs of the hospital. That's
a pretty good combination.