Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation

Celebrate the Light Gala

HOPE...the Light That Shines Through the Darkness
November 12th, 2011

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Thank you to our sponsors, donors, volunteers and guests for making the 2011 Celebrate the Light Gala a huge success! With your help, this year’s event raised $124,000 which results in more than 250 days of free treatment for patients and families through the Foundation's Patient Care Grant program.

An Evening of Celebration

Gala Co-Hosts: David and Edie Werner, Rick and Stacie AndritschMore than 280 guests attended this night filled with spirited fun, sumptuous dining, touching inspiration and worthy recognition. Upon arrival, guests were welcomed by Gala co-hosts, Dave and Edie Werner and Rick and Stacie Andritsch. Friendship and laughter quickly filled the Imperial Ballroom as guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres while bidding on their favorite auction items. Among the most talked about items in the auction were the Rogers Baskets, generously created by the employees at Rogers Memorial Hospital. Guests also enjoyed tasting fine wines compliments of Wine Maniacs and beautiful music by Dan Britz Duo.

After the reception, guests proceeded to the Grand Ballroom for a delectable five-course dinner and program. Thank you to Steve “the Homer” True who served as our emcee for the night’s festivities. The program began with a lively game of heads and tails followed by presentation of the Spirit of Giving Award. We are honored to announce that David L. Moulthrop,Dr. David Moulthrop gives thanks to his wife, Barbara. PhD, president and CEO of Rogers Behavioral Healthcare System, is this year’s recipient. He received the award in recognition of his immense generosity and outstanding leadership with the Foundation. A tree will be planted in his honor, and he received a special plaque with this quote:

Men are rich only as they give.
He who gives great service gets great returns.

Our guest speakers, former patient family Peter, Juli and Sarah shared their heart-warming story about their journey to recovery at Rogers Memorial Hospital. See “A Parents Perspective,” below. Near the end of their speech, Peter asked guests to stand if they have been affected by mental illness. Almost everyone in the room stood up. At that moment, Peter looked at his daughter and said, “See Sarah, we are not alone.” Thank you to our guest speakers for such an inspirational moment!

Guests left the night with warmth in their hearts and smiles on their faces. To all of our supporters, we hope that you had a wonderful night. Thank you again for your generosity.

A Parent's Perspective

We are honored to have welcomed former patient, Sarah, and her parents to the Gala this year. During the evening, Sarah's mom and dad shared the life-long lessons that Rogers initiated and continue during Sarah’s journey.

Stories of mental illness go back as far as time, but I never expected that we would be the ones writing the next story.

“I am tired of being defined by my medicine. I want to know who I am.” And so began the first step of a 12-year-old’s journey, from the psychiatrist’s office in November to the parking lot of Rogers in January. A family journey that took us from the fear of the unknown and allowed us to grow and enjoy the ability to embrace the present and the wonderful excitement that the future is not destined to be a repeat of the past.

December’s hopeful anticipation of tethered meds and active middle school collaboration quickly deteriorated. Home schooling was looking now to be a long-shot. Doctor visits were becoming more than weekly and the fear of the unknown became increasingly challenging.

In the first days of January, options were becoming more and more limited. Family, physicians, and school were on call. Then the good news came, “They have a bed! We have a date!” Getting to Oconomowoc was an initial challenge. Getting Sarah in the front door at Rogers was life changing.

A cold, sub-zero January morning, we had made it to the parking lot and could see the entrance to Rogers. Mom got out of the car and went inside to alert the staff. Sarah was outside in the car waiting with dad. It was to be our toughest transition.

Dad got out of the car and invited Sarah to follow. Emotions were tense and Sarah was stuck in the car, unable to transition and deteriorating emotionally. It was cold, and we were both without jackets. “We both go or we both freeze, Sarah. Rogers is our friend, and they can help. I’m cold too, and we are both tired.”

In a moment, which seemed much longer, the staff from Rogers came out to the car in the same instant that Sarah took her steps out of the car and started heading inside.

In weeks later, we watched in awe as Sarah left Rogers empowered with her new self-discovery.

Celebrate the Light Gala

An Evening of Celebration

A Parent's Perspective

Thank You to our Sponsors