On September 10, 2010, the Gift of Life Foundation hosted its first annual gala. We were fortunate enough to be asked to provide the music for it and were more than happy to help. Mike was the DJ for the event and he kept everyone dancing!
The Gift of Life is a non-profit organ and tissue donor program serving hospitals and patients in Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware. The gala was hosted in order to raise money to open a "home away from home," in the Philadelphia area for donor and transplant families - a place they can call home while their loved ones are going through the transplant process.
Gift baskets for the Auction (a total of 50 baskets were raffled off)
Gift of Life Education Table
Casino Winner (1 of top 5)
Gift of Life Board Members and Family
Rachel Miller and Tricia Domico (Event Board)
Dancing fun
We asked Rachel Miller, the person behind the gala to share how she got involved with the Gift of Life, her experience with putting such a large event together and what we can do to help. This is what she had to say.
On April 18, 2010 I ran in my first 10k at the foot of the Art Museum steps, raising money for Organ Donor Awareness. In all respects, I never understood how charities operated and that the need to carry out their aim and objectives was so immense. Furthermore, I did not know what I was in for within the approaching months until my boss and great friend, Lynn Fallon, placed me on the board/event committee.
This was merely by default - although, it was a blessing in disguise. Lynn challenged me, and I ran with it. Without a charity event to raise the funds needed to build a home, it would just be a thought for years to come. I learned just what these foundations have on their plates through maintaining a sufficient amount of donors and keeping them a priority year after year. Gaining new supporters, initiating more funds and increasing corporate-level benefits was no easy task.
After booking the affair in Philadelphia, I knew our next step was to find the ideal entertainment. There is an undersized fortune in finding a faultless DJ for an event of this weight and I knew it was something we had to tackle before moving forward with other contracts. I knew I had to contact Matt Blank and Synergetic Sounds. I knew they would help to make this Gala a great success! My brother used Synergetic for his wedding in January and they were wonderful. When I approached Matt about the Gala, he signed on without hesitation. Having Synergetic Sounds as part of this event exceeded all of my expectations. What a class act!
The Thanksgiving holiday will be here in just a few weeks and with that comes a common theme – thankfulness. We should of course be grateful every day, but this time of year provides an especially good opportunity to show gratitude to those around us. My wish for this season is to gather a force of friends that will accompany me and the Gift of Life Families at their new site in Philadelphia- bringing them great dinners, fun, laughs and new friends.
Throughout the course of preparing for and implementing this event, I have deemed fundraising to be as challenging as the physical training of the race. It may have been more of a benefit for myself, than to the families and the foundation. I have learned that positive actions and a relentless effort to help others can result in the discovery of inner-strength and life enrichment.
Thanks so much to Rachel for sharing her story and this wonderful charity with us! If you want to learn more about the Gift of Life Foundation visit their website or you can contact Sara Cohen, Director, at 215-599-2042. If you have any questions about the gala or how to get involved you can contact Rachel at 267-258-6445 or shwtdapuc@gmail.com.
The Gift of Life is a non-profit organ and tissue donor program serving hospitals and patients in Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware. The gala was hosted in order to raise money to open a "home away from home," in the Philadelphia area for donor and transplant families - a place they can call home while their loved ones are going through the transplant process.
Cake donated by Rilling's Bakery Philadelphia
Gift baskets for the Auction (a total of 50 baskets were raffled off)
Gift of Life Education Table
Casino Winner (1 of top 5)
Gift of Life Board Members and Family
Rachel Miller and Tricia Domico (Event Board)
Dancing fun
We asked Rachel Miller, the person behind the gala to share how she got involved with the Gift of Life, her experience with putting such a large event together and what we can do to help. This is what she had to say.
On April 18, 2010 I ran in my first 10k at the foot of the Art Museum steps, raising money for Organ Donor Awareness. In all respects, I never understood how charities operated and that the need to carry out their aim and objectives was so immense. Furthermore, I did not know what I was in for within the approaching months until my boss and great friend, Lynn Fallon, placed me on the board/event committee.
This was merely by default - although, it was a blessing in disguise. Lynn challenged me, and I ran with it. Without a charity event to raise the funds needed to build a home, it would just be a thought for years to come. I learned just what these foundations have on their plates through maintaining a sufficient amount of donors and keeping them a priority year after year. Gaining new supporters, initiating more funds and increasing corporate-level benefits was no easy task.
After booking the affair in Philadelphia, I knew our next step was to find the ideal entertainment. There is an undersized fortune in finding a faultless DJ for an event of this weight and I knew it was something we had to tackle before moving forward with other contracts. I knew I had to contact Matt Blank and Synergetic Sounds. I knew they would help to make this Gala a great success! My brother used Synergetic for his wedding in January and they were wonderful. When I approached Matt about the Gala, he signed on without hesitation. Having Synergetic Sounds as part of this event exceeded all of my expectations. What a class act!
The Thanksgiving holiday will be here in just a few weeks and with that comes a common theme – thankfulness. We should of course be grateful every day, but this time of year provides an especially good opportunity to show gratitude to those around us. My wish for this season is to gather a force of friends that will accompany me and the Gift of Life Families at their new site in Philadelphia- bringing them great dinners, fun, laughs and new friends.
Throughout the course of preparing for and implementing this event, I have deemed fundraising to be as challenging as the physical training of the race. It may have been more of a benefit for myself, than to the families and the foundation. I have learned that positive actions and a relentless effort to help others can result in the discovery of inner-strength and life enrichment.
Thanks so much to Rachel for sharing her story and this wonderful charity with us! If you want to learn more about the Gift of Life Foundation visit their website or you can contact Sara Cohen, Director, at 215-599-2042. If you have any questions about the gala or how to get involved you can contact Rachel at 267-258-6445 or shwtdapuc@gmail.com.
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