Lights of Life

Event raises funds for the gardens at Memorial.

This winter, celebrate the holidays while supporting Memorial Hospital and the Health Care Foundation. The Hopkins County Physicians are Presenting Sponsors of the First Annual Lights of Life Gala, on Friday, Dec. 8. The gala runs from 7 p.m. to midnight at The LODGE in Sulphur Springs and includes a reception, dinner, a live auction and dancing to music provided by the Dallas band Class Act.

The Volunteer Auxiliary will be acknowledged for its continued support of the Lights of Life campaign and their commitment to the gala as a Star Sponsor. The sponsorship support and the $100-per-person ticket price will help the foundation reach its fundraising goal of $100,000. That money will be used to build Phase I of The Gardens at Memorial, a peaceful place where patients, their families and friends, hospital staff and the community will be able to go to enjoy the outdoors and improve their health.

"The Gardens at Memorial will support the mission of the hospital, which is to promote, maintain and improve the health of the population it serves," says Jackie Thornton, Health Care Foundation director.

The Gardens, to be located west of the hospital, will offer a strolling track, park benches, picnic tables, water features, bridges and flowers.

A Remembrance Lane will offer space for memorials and honorariums, and honor plaques will list major Lights of Life sponsors and donors. "Year-round donations to The Gardens project will contribute to the therapeutic part of healing-I believe gardening can be physically, mentally and spiritually healing," Thornton says.

The fundraising gala is linked with the annual Lights of Life Christmas tree-lighting campaign, slated for Thursday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. this year. For a $25 donation you can dedicate a light on the hospital Christmas tree in honor or memory of someone special.

By Stephanie Thurrott

Micky Masters-Barnett is the gala chair, and Bill Bradford will serve as the honorary chair. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Jackie Thornton at (903) 438-4799.