Levine Children's Hospital Gala Raises $2.4 Million
Community Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Record Donations
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The third annual Levine Children's Gala, presented by PNC Bank on April 1, raised a record $2.4 million for pediatric patients. Over 500 guests and numerous sponsors celebrated Levine Children's Hospital's 10th anniversary.
"When we opened our doors 10 years ago, it was our vision to raise the bar for the delivery of healthcare to children in Charlotte and the surrounding region," said Callie Dobbins, the Levine Children's Hospital facility executive. "I'm proud to say that we have done exactly that – thanks to the support of the community. Today, Levine Children's Hospital is so much more than we dreamed it would be."
At the event, Carolinas HealthCare System celebrated a surprise community challenge gift from the Leon Levine Foundation. Leon Levine, honorary gala chair, presented the $1 million challenge gift for Levine Children's Hospital to Gene Woods, president and CEO of Carolinas HealthCare System.
"We issue this challenge for all the great friends and supporters of Levine Children's Hospital," said Levine. "It is our desire to keep world-class care for our children here in Charlotte and to take this remarkable hospital to the next level," Leon Levine said.
Levine then announced that his children – Lori and Eric Sklut, Julie and Howard Levine and Amy and Alfred Dawson – committed $250,000 to jump-start the match. Rick and Linda Hendrick, who supported the original campaign for Levine Children's Hospital with a multimillion dollar gift in memory of their son Ricky Hendrick, offered the evening's second big surprise. The Hendricks announced a $750,000 gift to complete the challenge match. Other donors also made substantial gifts, enabling the gift to exceed the challenge amount.
Throughout the evening, the community celebrated the Levine Children's Hospital care team and the featured guests, our pediatric patients. Molly Grantham, the WBTV anchor known for chronicling children's medical journeys through "Molly's Kids," interviewed each of the children.
Major gala sponsors included UTC Aerospace, SunEnergy1, US Trust, Barings and Brighthouse Financial. Actress Angie Harmon, along with Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, co-emceed the event. The gala concluded with a performance by headline entertainment group, American Authors.
The gala organizing committee included Candy and Darren Bing, Amy and Alfred Dawson, Angie Harmon, Katie and Matt Burge, Sherrard and John Georgius, Stephanie and David Gitlin, Mandy and Todd Houser, Emily and Tyler Johnson, Kara and Greg Olsen, Ana and Manuel Rey, Tiffany and Scott Smith, Ann and Michael Tarwater, and Amy and Martin Welton.
About Carolinas HealthCare System
Carolinas HealthCare System (carolinashealthcare.org), one of the nation's leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carolina. Its diverse network of care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative care services. Carolinas HealthCare System works to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives.
SOURCE Carolinas HealthCare System
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