Shands Jacksonville is hosting its first ever black-tie event Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7p.m. at the West Club of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. “A Night for Heroes,” a Mardis Gras-themed event, will benefit TraumaOne, the region’s only pediatric and adult Level I Trauma Center.
Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton will kick off the exciting evening as honorary chair of the event. Channel 4’s Mary Baer is graciously serving as the emcee.
During dinner, the stories of two Jacksonville trauma patients will be featured on large video screens. At the completion of the video, the names of nearly 100 heroes who touched the lives of these two patients will be read aloud. Those heroes will then stand and light candles, illuminating the West Club. They include the dedicated staff of TraumaOne, doctors, nurses and therapists at Shands Jacksonville, Jacksonville Fire & Rescue, and the staff of Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital. At the end the patients will speak to the audience about their life changing experience.
In its 23-year history, TraumaOne is credited with saving thousands of lives and is considered one of the busiest trauma centers in the nation. The program serves 30 counties in Florida and Georgia and sees more than 4,300 patients a year.
Money raised will benefit TraumaOne at Shands Jacksonville. Gifts will be used to renovate the current family waiting areas just outside the Trauma Center as well as purchase life-saving equipment. Funds will also benefit Trauma Family Services, a program that offers families assistance with food and lodging, among other things.
Tickets for the event are $125. Tables of 10 may be purchased for $1,250. The law firm of Harrell and Harrell is the presenting sponsor. Other sponsors include the Vestcor Family Foundation, AirMethods, Brooks Rehabilitation, The University of Florida Department of Surgery/Division of Trauma & Critical Care, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and others.
For more information on the event log onto www.anightforheroes.com.