Wood River Health launched its 1st Annual Gala in 2021, which netted $45,000 in donations. These funds support our many programs and services that help improve our community's quality of life. Our 2022 Gala took place on September 30, 2022 and raised $65,000 for Wood River Health. Details about the event are below.
Our community has the opportunity to support this event through sponsorships, donating to the wine raffle and silent auction, or by purchasing tickets to the event. To learn more, please contact Sarah Channing, Director of Development and Communications, at SChanning@WoodRiverHealth.org.
The Gala Raised Over $65,000 for Wood River Health
Wood River Health hosted its 2nd Annual Harvest for Health Gala on September 30, 2022 to celebrate its 46th anniversary. This year’s Harvest for Health was held at The Haversham House in Westerly and live music was provided by Take it to the Bridge.
The sold-out event netted just over $65,000 for the Federally Qualified Health Center. This amount is a $20,000 increase over the previous year's gala. All event proceeds will support programs and services that improve the quality of life of Wood River Health’s patients.
Presenters included Wood River Health’s Board Chair Regan Pennypacker and President and CEO Alison Croke, who shared that the nonprofit was recently recognized as a Health Center National Quality Leader (NQL). This distinction is awarded to health center awardees that meet or exceed national benchmarks for one or more of the clinical quality measure (CQMs) groups that promote behavioral health, heart health, diabetes health, HIV prevention and care, and maternal and child health. Wood River Health was recognized for its efforts to improve access, address social risk factors to health, reduce health disparities, and advance health information technology.
During the event program, Alison Croke provided an update on the health center’s $5 million building project at its main facility at 823 Main Street in Hope Valley. The addition will enable it to grow its Hope Valley clinical space by 57%, increase annual dental visits by 1,200 per year and expand behavioral health services.
The gala was supported through many generous sponsorships made by community partners, local businesses and members of the Board of Directors. Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island served as Harvest for Health’s Presenting Sponsor. Professional Planning Group served at the Over the Harvest Moon level and A/Z Corporation was a Cornucopia Sponsor.
The event's Earth’s Bounty Sponsors included CLA, Integrated Healthcare Partners, Sun Media Group, United Healthcare, and Westerly Hospital - Yale New Haven. Home and Hearth Sponsors included Arnold Lumber, Genoa Healthcare, HILB Group, Vision 3 Architects, and Washington Trust Company.
During the speaking program, a heartfelt patient testimony was delivered by David Maher. In a prerecorded video, Maher stated how Wood River Health’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program saved his life.
A live auction brought in an additional $7,500. The auction was led by Rhode Island native Poppy Champlin, a nationally acclaimed comedian who has appeared on Oprah, Showtime, HBO and Joan Rivers and is President and Owner of Poppycock Productions.
The event provided the opportunity for guests to participate in a Wine Surprise Raffle, where they received a bottle of wine and a gift card up to $100 in exchange for a $46 donation. The raffle raised over $2,000 for Wood River Health. Gift cards were donated by local businesses. Wood River Health is also grateful to Haxton's Liquors Tollgate, Hopkinton Liquor Depot, Wakefield Liquors and The Wine Store for contributing wine to the event.
A Raise the Paddle brought in an additional $10,000 for the nonprofit health center. These funds will be used to support the cost of its expansion of its 823 Main Street facility in Hope Valley.
Photos of Harvest for Health’s attendees were taken by Yamuna Smith Photography and can be viewed on Wood River Health's Facebook page.
Clark Farms donated beautiful mums that decorated the tables and added to the harvest theme of the event. Attendees were given a small box of maple sugar candy to commemorate the evening.
The event was orchestrated by members of the Harvest for Health Gala Committee and was chaired by Board Vice Chair Dan Fitzgerald. Committee members included Board Chair Regan Pennypacker; Board Members Sue Brough and Kate Porter; and Pam Sawyer. Staff included Alison Croke, President and CEO; Sarah Channing, Director of Development and Communications; Dayna Mendolia, Marketing and Events Coordinator; and Jennifer Madden, Marketing and Communications Specialist. Event program and signage were designed by LDM Designs.
Wood River Health's 3rd Annual Harvest for Health will take place on Friday, September 22, 2023 at The Haversham House. Take it to the Bridge has been secured for the occasion.
