Pictured, left to right: Jennifer Nicely, president, CHI Memorial Foundation; Pat Reilly; Janelle Reilly, market CEO, CHI Memorial; Rick and Pam McKenney, Pink! 2020 co-chairs; Sarah and Will Clegg, Pink! 2020 co-chairs; Rebecca Houston; Anthony A. Houston, chief operating officer, CHI Memorial; Casey Schumacher; Larry Schumacher, senior vice president of operations, Southeast Division, CommonSpirit Health
CHI Memorial Foundation’s 15th annual Pink! gala, chaired by Will and Sarah Clegg and Rick and Pam McKenney, raised a net cash total of $516,000, setting a record high for the event. Additionally, contributions of in-kind goods and services exceeded $173,000.
"All proceeds stay in our local community benefitting the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at CHI Memorial," officials said. "The generosity of the sell-out crowd helped bring the total amount raised during 15 years of this annual fundraising gala to more than $4.7 million."
“The Chattanooga community continues to be so generous in their support of this wonderful event,” said Jennifer Nicely, president, CHI Memorial Foundation. “Because of their generosity, we are able to provide access to the most advanced breast cancer technology and treatments available.”
"Pink! proceeds ensure top-notch breast cancer detection and treatment capabilities right here at home," officials said. "This year, proceeds will be used to open a MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at CHI Memorial Parkway in Ringgold - the Center’s fourth location. A portion of the proceeds will also be used to help purchase a new mobile mammography coach that will offer 3D mammograms. This new coach will replace the first mobile coach that was put in service 15 years ago.
"In previous years, funds raised through Pink! helped purchase new equipment like tomosynthesis, or 3D, mammogram machines and advanced monitors used by our dedicated radiologists use to read mammograms, and helped fund CHI Memorial’s two mobile health coaches which travel thousands of miles each year, visiting 24 counties in Eastern Tennessee and five counties in North Georgia."
Next year’s Pink! gala will be held Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. Call 423-495-PINK (7465) or visit memorial.org/pink for information.