OH, Baby! What a night! A sold-out crowd of nearly 630 partied for a good cause at Rockford Health Gala 9, on May 17 at Cliffbreakers. The premier black-tie event of the Rockford Memorial Development Foundation raised more than $200,000 for the remodeling of the Mother/Baby Unit at Rockford Memorial Hospital. Gala 9 promises to be one of the most successful ever with a record-breaking number of attendees, corporate sponsorships, and total monies raised.
A record-breaking total of 50 businesses supported Gala 9 as corporate sponsors. Longtime gala sponsor AMCORE Bank and the Rockford Health System Department of Anesthesiology led the way as Premier Sponsors, followed by Platinum Sponsors the Emergency Physicians of Rockford Memorial Hospital and WilliamsMcCarthy LLP.
The Foundation has committed a total of $300,000 to the Mother/Baby renovation project, including the proceeds from the gala. In addition, the Rockford Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is donating $100,000, bringing the total philanthropic commitment to $400,000.
The gala proceeds will enhance the birth experience for patients and their families by bringing warmth and comfort to the rooms where moms recover with their babies. A total of 21 patient rooms will be updated, joining the recently remodeled operating rooms, the nursing station and recovery room. New furniture, flooring, wall coverings and artwork will be added to create a calm, healing environment.