Volunteers of the Southeastern Health (SeHealth) Foundation have been busy preparing for the 23rd annual Shades of India Gala. This year the event, set for Friday, Feb. 27 at Southeastern Agricultural Center in Lumberton, will offer a theme of India while raising funds to upgrade SeHealth’s MedCare Critical Care Transport Service.
“The transport service ensures that patients who entrust us with their care obtain a seamless transition should they need to be transferred to another facility,” said Emergency Services Director Lera Flynn. “Our transport team is equipped with advanced technology, medications and specially-trained critical care paramedics to ensure that the patients in our community are transported without compromising level of care.”
The Critical Care program has been in existence since 2004 and averages 276 calls and 8,000 miles each month. These calls typically require trips to Duke University Medical System or UNC Chapel Hospital, but the program also transports patients to facilities in South Carolina.
“The increased mileage and number of transports has created the need to replace or ‘remount’ of our critical care transport ambulances,” said SeHealth Chief Nursing Officer Renae Taylor. “The remount allows us to keep the frame of the critical care ambulance but replaces the motor and electronics—basically creating a ‘like new’ ambulance, allowing us to continue to provide this much needed service for our patients.”
“This year we are offering a new twist to the usual gala,” said event Chairwoman Paru Patel, of Lumberton, who has served on the SeHealth Foundation Board since 2012. “Being of Indian descent, we thought it was only fitting to have a theme where we could inject some Indian culture into the hospital experience.” Patel and her husband, Pramit, moved to Lumberton in 2000 and are owners of the local Best Western hotel.
In addition to the traditional Black-Tie attire that gala attendees are accustomed to, attendees this year are invited to dress to match the theme, although it is not required.
“In order to get the gala attendees to immerse themselves more into this cultural experience, I felt that if they wore Indian attire that they would enjoy the gala experience more,” added Patel. “We are going to be very colorful, so we are giving attendees an opportunity to be as vibrant as they want to be.”
In keeping with the theme, four dancers affiliated with a dance academy in Raleigh will be presenting an authentic Indian dance performance. A live band, Liquid Pleasure, will also be performing sounds of Motown.
A mixture of both standard American and traditional Indian food will be served during the event by ThymeSavor Catering of Wilmington.
The event will also include a silent auction of eight pieces of original artwork by local artists as well as a jewelry raffle.
More than 25 gala committee members have joined Patel and the SeHealth Foundation Staff to ensure this year’s event is a success.
“The annual gala, which continues into its 23rd year, is really our signature event,” said SeHealth Foundation Director Sissy Grantham. “We encourage anyone in the community who enjoys an elegant evening out while supporting a wonderful cause to reserve their tickets now for this event.”
To purchase tickets or for more information about the event, contact the SeHealth Foundation office at 671-5583 or foundation@southeasternhealth.org.
