The Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center Foundation is putting on its Gala, marking the return of the event for the first time in more than 20 years.
Singer/songwriter Haley Reinhart headlines the gala, which will be held 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, in the Southwest Mississippi Community College Fine Arts Auditorium. An after party starting around 9 p.m will be held at the Palace Theater for reserved-seat ticket holders.
“We held our last gala in 2002,” SMMC Director of Marketing Tina Brumfield said. “We had held 17 in a row, but ended the event because it became difficult for us to get the quality, high-profile entertainers that we hosted. After 2002, we held various other fundraisers but nothing like the gala. It was more casual. We’re thrilled to be bringing back the gala.”
The event represents the biggest fundraiser for the hospital, which will honor three Healthcare Heroes during the event before Reinhart takes the stage at 7.
“We’ll also be putting on a rare bourbon drawdown as well as a wine pull contest at the after-party event,” Brumfield said. “There will also be an auctioning of a beautiful watercolor painting by the late, beloved artist Susy Sanders, which her family donated.”
Reinhart is a double-platinum recording artist, singer-songwriter and actress who has earned Billboard magazine top 20 singles on the Adult Contemporary, Adult Pop, U.S. Digital, U.S. Dance and Jazz charts.
She is best known for her appearance on the 10th season of “American Idol,” which she finished in third place.
“We’re thrilled to have Haley as our featured performer,” Brumfield said. “She’s popular across so many musical genres and age groups, and is well known from “American Idol,” so she was the ideal choice. Jackson concert promoter Arden Barnett helped us get Haley and we couldn’t be happier. People will thoroughly enjoy her show and we’re finding that her fans from all over the state are coming to the gala to see Haley.”
Brumfield said that funds raised from this year’s gala will be used to upgrade and renovate the cafeteria, which is still in its original 1969 space, and will cost around $80,000.
“It just doesn’t keep up with the needs of our 1,200 hospital employees and numerous visitors, so we will be putting in a new cafeteria with healthier food options with the money we raise,” Brumfield said.
To purchase tickets to the gala, go to www .eventbrite.com or contact Brumfield directly at 601-551-5180 or email tina .brumfield@smrmc.com.
Reserved tickets are $100, which includes the after-party at The Palace Theater and general admission tickets to the concert are $50.
The event is black-tie optional, semi-formal.
