‘Triple Crown’ Gala raises more than $17,000 to expand physical therapy clinic Community Health Care News December 20, 2023December 20, 20230 Photos by BRANDON MCMULLEN Attendees wore derby attire in honor of the ‘Triple Crown’ theme. Mary Davies Kerns painted and donated this stunning piece for the live auction. Harney Hospital Foundation held the “Triple Crown” Gala Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Burns Elks Lodge. The event earned more than $17,000, due in large part to sponsors Central Oregon Radiology Associates (CORA), Broadway Deli, High Desert Construction & Irrigation, Ed Staub & Sons, Owens Hay LLC, and Oster Professional Group. All proceeds will be put toward expanding the Physical and Sports Therapy clinic at Harney District Hospital. The formal affair featured a delicious dinner catered by the Burns Elks Lodge and served by members of the Burns FFA. Diners were also treated to decadent desserts by Rockin R Sweets. The Elks Lodge provided an ideal venue, which was beautifully decorated by Foundation Manager Elisha Miller and members of the Foundation Board. Sage Country Venue and Rentals provided tables, chairs, and scaffolding to truly transform the space. Dueling piano group, ‘Rock Dee House’, had just about everyone moving and grooving on the dance floor! Attendees were greeted at the door by the friendly faces of Daryn and Stephanie Moss, who also helped with bookkeeping. While enjoying their meal, attendees were entertained by the musical stylings of Bobby Long. Auctioneer Wesley Woolery added a sense of excitement and professionalism to the live auction. He was assisted by spotters Katlen Schimmelpfennig, Kevin Schimmelpfennig, and Chance Miller who helped keep track of bids and entice bidders to up the ante. Catherine White and Sammie Masterson were instrumental in tracking and recording bid information. The highest-grossing live auction item was a weekend stay in Sunriver, donated by Chris and Toni Siegner. Congratulations to Kurt and Rachel Beaubien who outbid the competition and will be enjoying a beautiful vacation. Additional auction items were donated by MODA Health, Fran Davis, Big R, Otley Cattle Company, Doverspike Beef, Ed’s Custom Cuts, Toby and Catherine White, First Community Credit Union, and Mary Davies Kerns. The Foundation sincerely appreciates all of the generous donors! After the live auction, a paddle auction was held. During this auction, numerous donors generously pledged to contribute various sums. Together, the live and paddle auctions raised $11,595 in a matter of minutes! Following the auctions, the aptly named dueling piano group, Rock Dee House, had just about everyone moving and grooving on the dance floor! Special thanks to Brandon McMullen of BGMichael Images for expertly capturing the magic of the evening on camera. With the success of the “Triple Crown” Gala, the Foundation is off to the races! The gala jump-started a long-term campaign to raise funds to expand the hospital’s Physical and Sports Therapy clinic. The overall goal of this project is to remodel the clinic to create more space for existing services and to grow to meet the needs of our expanding population. The clinic expansion will also benefit to the hospital’s thriving orthopedics program. Foundation Manager Elisha Miller said she feels incredibly blessed by the community’s generosity. “Your gifts have a tremendous impact on the growth and development of excellent health care in Harney County,” Miller said. “The original meaning of ‘philanthropy’ was ‘love of humanity.’ That love is strong in Harney County, and I feel so blessed to be part of this community.”