Special
Events - Rochester PHenomenal PHifties Gala and Silent Auction
Rochester PHenomenal PHifties is a PHenomenal Success!
What do an Elvis Presley cardboard cutout, dinner served by Sushi-making Mayo Clinic doctors, and a 1985 black Corvette have to do with pulmonary hypertension? These were all prizes auctioned off at the PHenomenal PHifties Fundraiser held on November 5th in Rochester, Minnesota.
On the first weekend of Awareness Month, over 190 patients, family members, friends and sponsor company supporters celebrated the hope and vision of the PH community at this 50s-themed gala and auction fundraiser. The event was planned and hosted by Mike and Bonnie McGoon, Cathy Severson, Louise Durst, Sue and Bruce Tointon, and Theresa Kuhn.
Women decked out in poodle skirts accompanied men dressed like greasers. Guests were greeted by a room decorated with record albums, hula hoops, pink flamingos, roller skates and diner-style black and white checkered tablecloths. Cardboard cutouts of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean served as a “photo op” for all.
Patients came to Rochester from nearby Minneapolis, but also from Wisconsin, Florida and South Dakota. The sponsors of the event flew staff in from across the country and many booked tables and brought large groups together for the event. CoTherix, Accredo, Actelion, Medtronic, Pfizer, Encysive, United Therapeutics, Caremark, CuraScript, Guidant, Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union, Myogen and PharmaCare all donated at generous levels.
Guests were treated to a sponsored reception of canapés and wine. The reception also featured a silent auction of over 40 items, including a sushi dinner for 8 prepared by Mayo Clinic doctors in the home of the winner. In the excitement of the night’s events, Cathy Severson responded to an inquiry about the Elvis cardboard cut out by jumping up and spontaneously auctioning it off to the highest bidder for a $450 donation to the cause. Other auction winners walked away with martini and wine baskets, paintings, hotel packages and much more.
Dinner followed the auction, and PHA Board Members Mark Jeter and Mike McGoon gave moving speeches during a short program. The night was capped off by dancing to the rock-and-roll music of “Lost Faculties.”
According to event planner Bonnie McGoon, the event exceeded their expectations. “I was terribly moved by the event. The guests had lots of fun yet went away with an increased awareness of PH. Though it is still a lesser known disease, I got a number of calls and emails from friends with no connection to PH who wanted to support and donate.” Bonnie and friends have organized gala fundraisers in the past during off-conference years. This event grossed over $85,000 for vital PHA patient services and support! “We are so grateful for the community support, and will increase our goals in 2007,” enthuses Bonnie. “We are thankful to have the entire planning committee so focused, committed and passionate about supporting the PH community and look forward to the 2007 event.”
