The 25th annual Park Ridge Health Foundation Gala recently transported guests back to the era of classic movies to “Experience the Silver Screen.” More than 400 people enjoyed the evening of sophisticated fun at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel in Asheville.
The program featured the presentation of the Dr. P.J. Moore, Jr. & Dr. Arthur A. Pearson Award of Excellence, which annually goes to an outstanding individual or organization in the local community. Five community stars were nominated for this award. Each nominee was selected because their agencies are working to create access to effective mental health care, ending the opioid epidemic, and working on innovative prevention programs to help youth develop skills to help them make strong, positive choices in their lives. A special thank you to: Craig Halford/First Contact Addiction Ministries, Julia Hockenberry/Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County, Julie Honeycutt/HopeRx, Kristen Martin/Thrive and Dane Whitlock/Flat Rock Playhouse Studio 52.
This year’s award recipient is Mr. Craig Halford, Director and President of First Contact Addiction Ministries, a nonprofit agency that provides a lifeline of hope and compassionate support to anyone seeking help for substance abuse and addiction and acts as a resource for individuals, families and loved ones seeking medical, spiritual and emotional support.
The evening also included the inaugural presentation of the Park Ridge Health Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. P.J. Moore, Jr. Dr. Moore is a retired physician who dedicated many decades of his life to health care in Western North Carolina. This Park Ridge Health legend resides in Hendersonville at age 98, with his wife Elaine.
The proceeds of this year’s Gala ticket sales, auctions and sponsorships will fund telehealth initiatives at Park Ridge Health. This program will allow for faster diagnoses to create highly effective treatment plans, cut down on emergency room visits, and allow for fewer readmittances to the hospital. With the funds raised, Park Ridge Health will now have the ability to bring telemedicine into rural county schools and homeless communities where patients may not otherwise be seen by a doctor.
The silent auction raised more than $22,000 to support the program.
The evening’s Live Auction will fund two simulation manikins, Noelle and Sam. Noelle is an advanced birthing simulator with technology that simulates labor contractions, the heart rate of the fetus and creates focused training drills for high-acuity obstetrical emergencies. Noelle provides 30 different scenarios, allowing care teams to practice in real time. Training for specific situations is paramount to providing the highest care possible for the nursing and medical staff to stabilize expecting mothers.
Noelle’s friend Sam is an adult resuscitation and emergency care simulator. Sam provides vital Code Blue training scenarios, enhancing Park Ridge Health care team’s ability to act quickly to provide enhanced care for stroke patients. This year, Park Ridge Health has embarked on the journey to become a Stroke Center of Excellence. To achieve this certification, our emergency department must be an exceptional access point and with a highly trained team to give rapid and high-level care to those presenting with stroke symptoms. This simulation manikin will help provide that vital training.
“We are speechless year after year at our Annual Gala to see the community pour their support into our programs at Park Ridge Health,” said Sherri Holbert, Park Ridge Health Senior Director of Marketing and Foundation.
The Park Ridge Health Foundation wishes to thank the following sponsors of the “Experience the Silver Screen” Gala:
Exclusive Diamond Presenting Sponsor: Image Solutions
Emerald Sponsor: Printville
Pearl Sponsors: The Biltmore Company, FASTSIGNS
Top Level Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire and Jade Sponsors include:
An English Flower Cottage
Park Ridge Health Volunteer Services
Skyland Prosthetics & Orthotics
21st Century Oncology
Champion Comfort Experts
Hendersonville Radiological Consultants
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company
Thomas L. Codington, CPA
BMW of Asheville
Blue Ridge Health
Carolina Ophthalmology
Four Seasons Compassion for Life
LawnAmerica
McGuire, Wood & Bissette Law Firm
Parsec Financial
Resource Corporation of America
Robins & Morton
Tarheel Paving
TD Bank
The Lodge at Mills River/Hendersonville Health & Rehabilitation
Willow Creek Dental Center
To learn more about the Park Ridge Health Foundation and its efforts to support Park Ridge Health and our community, please call 828.681.2421 or email [email protected].