Vita Bella Gala Celebrates Hope And Hospitality
EXPLORE – Hope Lodge is known for its “home away from home” hospitality for people diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers.
The atmosphere is warm and comfortable, but what adds to the ambiance is the smell of a good evening meal being prepared and served in a well-appointed kitchen by volunteers who love to cook and minister to people.
For this work, a special group – Hope Lodge Meal Ministry initiated by North Ridge Church, Marshfield – will be honored at the ninth annual Vita Bella Gala benefitting the American Cancer Society (ACS) Hope Lodge, Marshfield, and is the ninth recipient of the ACS’ Spirit of Hope Award.
The Gala will be Thursday, May 3, at Hotel Marshfield beginning with a reception and silent auction at 5:30 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.; followed by a program and live auction. Lori and Jake Gropp of Marshfield chair the event again this year and presenting sponsors are Marshfield Clinic Health System and Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc.
Relay for Life volunteer James Gardner of Minnesota, as the evening’s guest speaker, will share his first-hand experience with Hope Lodge in New York City while battling and surviving cancer.
Hope Lodge, located at 611 W. Doege St. in Marshfield, is free of charge for adult cancer patients and their caregivers. The only Hope Lodge location in Wisconsin, this non-medical facility offers community and comfort to cancer patients who must travel to Marshfield to receive lifesaving cancer treatment typically not available in their home communities.
Recipients of the annual Spirit of Hope Award epitomize community service through their work with Hope Lodge, recognizing them for their dedication to people diagnosed with cancer and their families. Their support and leadership has been transformative and they have unified others to improve people’s lives. Award recipients are builders – people who, quite apart from personal achievements, have raised the capacity of others to advance the common good.
Past Spirit of Hope honorees are Fritz Wenzel, Margaret Peterson, Dr. Douglas Reding, Marilyn Hardacre, the late Dick Hofmeister, Larry Shortess, Mike Schmidt and Dr. William and Karen Hocking.
Since Hope Lodge opened in 2003, over 27,000 guests have been provided with over 70,000 overnight stays, saving patients and their families an estimated $11.6 million. All funds raised at the Gala will directly support the Lodge, ensuring the ability to provide cancer patients and their families with this benefit.
Event tickets are $90 each and available on line at www.marshfieldHLgala.org. “Golden Tickets” for a special fundraiser, a chance to win a Colorado vacation, are available at Hope Lodge and from committee members – the Gropps, Barb Agen, Pat Allen, Brooke Binder, Dana Habush-Bseiso, M.D., Mary Jo Fritsche, Joann Gougeon, Janet Grant, Mindy and Robert Gribble, M.D., Joellen Heiman, the Hockings, Michael Jasurda, Heather Krueger, Diane Meissner, Maureen Mercier, Shawn Meyer, Bill Mork, Ralph Mueller, Amy Nienast, Jewel Quelle, Marty Reinhart, Mike Schmidt, Joleen Specht, Gwen and Tom Steensen.
For more information, contact Amy Zondlo, ACS Community Development manager, 651-255-8147 or [email protected]; or Quelle, Hope Lodge manager, 715-486-9100 or at [email protected].
