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The Paper   | Thursday, April 10, 2014

FASHION SHOW Continued from 1A

Pergantis announced the centerpieces, live topiary, were available for sale to add to the fundraising ally along with the proceeds from a silent auction. Pennebaker said she and Sonia Steffes go way back to when Sonia was a personal shopper and fashion consultant with Nordstroms at the Mall of Georgia. “We just connected,” said Pennebaker. Steffes’ 30 years in retail

Sarina Roth Never the Rock Photography

During the fashion show, Aimee Gilbert’s Bigio polka dot dress popped with a pink toile wrap.

and her commitment to personal service prompted her to establish her own boutique in her hometown of Athens a decade ago. Pennebaker said this fashion guru and her good friend would give the crowded Debussy Ballroom a great fashion show and she delivered. Steffes said the community has grown so much that it’s like a city in itself, one deserving of its own hospital. She thanked Medical Center Foundation Board Chairman Jim Moore and Anthony Williamson, Vice President of Greater Braselton Development for the Northeast Georgia Health System, for assisting the models on the runway. Chanel sponsors included Anesthesia Associates of Gainesville, Northeast Georgia Physicians Group and The Spa of Chateau Elan. Diane von Furstenberg sponsor was Milton Martin Honda/Butch Miller for Senate. Ellen DeFoor, director of development for the Medical Center Foundation, manned a table which displayed the rendering of the outdoor philanthrophy opportunities available. DeFoor said she anticipates the announcement of the Rotary Club of Braselton sponsoring the flag plaza will create momentum and others will seek out opportunities for their own support of the hospital’s gardens and other outdoor spaces. There are also indoor opportunities such as the chapel. To share some information about the emergency services at the new hospital, the emergency services physician who will be staffing the ER was introduced. Dr. Douglas Morrison acknowledged he was a little nervous when asked to be a part of the fashion show. Modeling is not his strong suit, he said. Relieved when he learned he would be speaking about the emergency services Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton will be offering, Morrison said he was inspired by the Gainesville campus’ black and white photos of the ladies who helped raise money in 1951 for that hospital. The beauMorrison tiful stylishly dressed ladies who were community leaders, stay-at-home moms and volunteers were looking into the future at that time as they sold baked goods in the gift shop and did other fundraising. They were com-

mitted to bringing such an important service to the community just as the Women of North Georgia are looking to do now. Those who can trace their roots back to this community and those who have made this their home and are now a part of its history. Morrison said because of the growth of the area it has been said that the community needs this hospital. “This hospital really needs this community,” said Morrison, who noted he was part of providing medical care to those injured in the Olympic Park bombing, those hurt as tornadoes ripped through North Georgia, individuals who have suffered heart attacks and strokes and thousands of injured children – all scary situations. But scarier is needing care and being in a community that doesn’t have an ER, said Morrison. “We will have a highly advanced ER right around the corner,” said Morrison. With 17 bays in the ER, there will be staffing by trained board certified physicians and nurse practitioners and physician assistants with ER specialized training. He said the staff is currently working with EMTs and paramedics of the region to educate about what will be offered and how all the emergency care providers can work together. Morrison said the fashion show and luncheon was a wonderful fundraiser in support of this community. He noted it would help improve outcomes for patients and improve healing provided at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton. After the meal, wine and fellowship were enjoyed, it was fashion time. “Debbie and I love to shop,” said Pennebaker. They were in an Athens boutique “Sonia Says” and saw Lona Pope, treasurer of the Foundation board, who was scheming with Sonia Steffes about a fundraiser. Pope said if there are to who can put this together, it was Pennebaker and Pergantis -- and eight months later, they, along with a busy committee, made it happen in a big way. The fashion show featured models who are stay-at-home moms, volunteers and professionals. closed its doors on Thursday to provide the stylish looks of the models. Cache’ Salon and Spa closed its doors on Thursday to provide the stylish looks of the models. Steffe said the spring looks are being put together to present confidence and attitude. There are different fashion looks but we want flair.

7A

Sarina Roth Never the Rock Photography

Brenda Thompson wore a Sara CAmpbell aqua pique jacket with Lior pants, which are among the popular at Sonia Says. See more scenes from the luncheon and fashion show fundraiser at ClickThePaper.com “I hope you got some great fashion ideas,” said Steffe as the models made their way off the catwalk and into the audience to present colorful balloons. Fashion show committee members included Michelle Colluro, Deb Hempen, Eileen Howard, Theresa Huss, Karon Martinez, Caryn McGarity, Debbie Moore, Mary Neuman, Nancy Panoz, Angela Pascual, Lona Pope, Peggy Slappey, Kathy Spivey, Mary Stanford, Diane Stephens, Katie Steffes, Sonia Steffes. Jonathon Wise and Angela Zubar. Foundation annual gifts officer Sonya Smith said lots of volunteers put in so much work to make the event happen.

Hospital’s flag plaza will be sponsored by Rotary By LEANNE AKIN

lakin@clickthepaper.com

Next year, Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton will be opening and those coming into the healthcare facility will pass by the flag plaza which the Rotary Club of Braselton will be sponsoring. At a recent meeting of the civic organization which currently meets at 7:30 a.m. on Thursdays at The Legends Clubhouse at Chateau Elan, members voted to be the philanthropic supporter of the flag plaza. “This is a major project, possibly a very important legacy for this club,” said Rotarian Tony Funari, who along with fellow Rotarian Paul Maney, a member of the hospital board, formulated the proposal for the Braselton Rotary Club to become the first donor to the outdoor naming opportunities at the new Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton. Private anonymous donors and public donors, including IBM, will be joining with Rotary in the project which will evoke a sense of pride of country when guests arrive and see the flags flying in the breeze. The club becomes the first civic organization to give at the signature gift level. “We are talking about a 50-year legacy to be had at very little cost,” said Funari before welcoming Nancy Colston, medical foundation

“This is a major project, possibly a very important legacy for this club.”

executive director, to the podium. She was joined by campaign manager Maggie James. Funari mentioned the hospital’s support of the club’s golf tournaments and other projects and support of employees as Rotarians. He also noted the membership attraction potential for Rotary with signage prominently displayed. The Hospital Foundation feasibility study found the community was looking for creation of a healing environment and an extraordinary destination for wellness and the design of the hospital, the first new net, not replacement, hospital in Georgia in 20 years, incorporates the goals identified by the community. Also included in the design are outdoor spaces created as destinations for wellness. Hope, healing and wellness are part of the master plan and there are 12 naming opportunities among the gardens and other outdoor spaces. One of those

Tony Funari Braselton Rotarian is the Rotary flag plaza at the entrance to the hospital’s rotunda. This is gorgeous property and the plans are to enhance it with green initiatives to capitalize on the natural beauty, said Colston. Partnering with two firms, the health care system and the foundation have a design which patients, families and staff can enjoy and be a part of, said Colston. Colston said the flag plaza was actually designed with Rotary in mind. Service Above Self is the Rotary motto and Rotarians have

long been involved with the health care system’s mission. The flag plaza is an opportunity for the Braselton Rotary Club to have a partnership with the new hospital for years to come. The Northeast Georgia Health System has been a sponsor of the Rotary Club’s golf tournament and other fundraisers for years and both have been involved in sponsoring the Braselton-Hoschton Relay For Life since its inception. Colston said she wants to educate other people about the community partnership opportunities with the new hospital. There are plans for an area of honor inside the rotunda where those supporting the hospital will be recognized. Acknowledgements will also be provided at the grand opening festivi-

ties. Charter member recognitions and acknowledgement in Communicare, the health care system’s publication which is distributed to 70,000, will be provided. The new hospital will be a meeting destination, according to Colston. An educational component will be provided to tour groups and visitors about Rotary as well as about the power of serving one’s community. “Philanthropy is the difference between a good hospital and a great hospital,” said the late W. Woodrow “Woody” Stewart, when he was chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hospital Foundation. An honor graduate of Jefferson High School, he earned a football scholarship to Furman University, where he graduated with a

bachelor’s degree in 1960. Colston said the example you set for others to follow is important and Rotary is making a difference in the community by being the first to support the new hospital’s outdoor naming opportunities. There are also opportunities to enrich the hospital within its walls such as in the chapel. For information about assisting the Medical Center Foundation in its efforts on the Braselton hospital campus, call 770-219-8099 or visit www.TheMedicalCenterFoundation.org. The Medical Center Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Northeast Georgia Health System. The Foundation is a volunteer-driven and supported program.

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