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MUSC Charity Ball celebrates 20 years by Cindy Abole Public Relations Everyone loves a party, especially if it’s a benefit established to support the charitable efforts of others within the Tri-county community. On Feb. 17, medical students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of MUSC gathered for a special event at the Charleston Area Convention Center that made for a high-class, memorable evening celebrating the College of Medicine’s 20th annual Charity Ball.      Since 1987, the Charity Ball has been the premiere event of the academic year to help raise money for various local charities. Organized almost entirely by medical students, the Charity Ball combines the creativity and efforts of dozens of dedicated individuals committed to producing a fun, memorable event that supports the college’s mission of preparing South Carolina’s next generation of physicians and community outreach.      “We are so excited about the 20th anniversary of the Charity Ball and its continued success in uniting faculty, staff, students, and residents together in a celebration that gives back to the local community where we work and live,” said Natalee Sheppe French, a fourth-year COM student and a co-chair of the Charity Ball committee.      Co-sponsored by the College of Medicine Student Council and the Medical Student Alumni Council, the Charity Ball is the college’s largest single charitable event of the year raising more than $225,000 within the past nine years  and $29,000 in 2006. At its centerpiece was the Charity Ball's Silent Auction, which featured a bevy of bargains from artwork, one-of-a-kind items and collectibles to bed-and-breakfast weekends, excursions and unique services.           “The College of Medicine has only one formal social event each year and it is the Charity Ball. The students select local charities where all the funds go to support groups who help our community. This is a chance for the faculty and students to do something together outside of medicine that benefits the people we are privileged to serve medically,” said Jerry Reves, M.D., College of Medicine dean.   Proceeds from this year’s Charity Ball event will benefit six organizations, including Crisis Ministries, the CARES Clinic, Association for the Blind, ASCEND Foundation, First Baptist Church of North Charleston Medical Clinic, and Trident Area Agency on Aging. All Charity Ball co-chairs, along with Liz Sheridan, MUSC Gives Back Program director, completed a subjective process to review and select this year’s charity recipients from a large applicant pool of non-profit community organiza-tions.   One charity, Crisis Ministries, has been a perpetual recipient of Charity Ball funds since its inception. Each year, money raised is used to support the full-time health clinic and other activities in addition to the Wednesday night medical clinics sponsored by College of Medicine students, and other programs.   “Having such a dedicated partner like MUSC be involved and committed to us for 20 years is a true blessing,” said Stacey Denaux, Crisis Ministries executive director. “It is clear that medical students are committed to caring for the homeless and find value in our organization and for that we are thankful.”     Ever popular, the auction was coordinated by four medical student co-chairs—Josh Black, Kathryn Willoughby, Ashley Procopio-Allen and Eugene Kimn, all members of the Medical Student Alumni Council, which consists of 32 medical students (eight students from each of the four medical school classes). Each fall, students are charged to collect auction contributions.       “MSAC is such a unique group of students,” said Black. “Members juggle classes and rotations with numerous hours in the community to solicit donations for the auction. All the work is well worth it once we see how much money is donated to the charities.”   In addition to the auction, a party coordinated by the seven co-chairs of the Student Council Charity Ball Committee and its dedicated committee of 13 students, whose job was to ensure that everyone stayed in a festive, charitable mood. This year, the group raised a record $12,700 in program ad sales of which clinical departments committed to more than $10,000.       “It is hard to express in words the awe that I have for the people who have made this happen— our students,” said Candace Gillespie, co-director of the Charity Ball.  “I’m amazed at their energy, resourcefulness and creativity. Of course, the success is also largely dependent on our community’s generosity and the support of our faculty and staff. A big thank you to everyone who has made this year so wonderful. It is such a pleasure to do what I do and to be associated with this event!”   This year’s landmark event was heralded by the melodic sounds of the Summerville Community Orchestra, plus the event’s featured band, Permanent Vacation, which kept guests dancing to the sounds of beach music and classics throughout the evening.   The Butterfly Flower Shop provided a  centerpiece for the entranceway and roses for all of the tables; Nancy’s Exotic Plants furnished ficus trees for the ballroom; Charpia’s Formal Wear donated a tux for the auction and offered a special discount for attendees; and beverages for the evening were supplied by Pearlstine Distributors, Southern Wine and Spirits, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Sidney Frank Importing Co. Inc, Brown Forman, and Bacardi.   “To make an event successful, it takes a lot of work from everyone,” said Peggy Singletary, co-director of the Charity Ball. “The students work hard and I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with this special group of young people.” Charity Ball donation recipients Crisis Ministries: Established in 1984, this organization was created to meet the immediate needs of the homeless and hungry living in the Tri-county. They provide an array of health care services and service programs, including a 24-hour family center, men’s shelter, soup kitchen, food rescue program, chaplaincy program and health clinics. Association for the Blind: The mission of this organization is to assist individuals who are blind or suffer from severe vision loss caused by disease, strokes and accidents by improving their quality of life through education, magnifying devices and equipment. ASCEND Foundation: The Anne Scandalios Cancer Ends Now Directive was organized as a non-profit corporation to bring hope to children with cancer. Each year, more than 200 children are diagnosed with cancer at MUSC. The program hopes to eliminate cancer deaths through awareness, education, prevention and research. It also fund several outreach programs including the “Chemo Duck” program distributing patient-friendly toys to children coping with cancer. Trident Area Agency on Aging: This group was organized to enhance the quality of life for the elderly in the Tri-county area. It supports home care, adult day care, home-delivered meals and other services to assist seniors. CARES Clinic: The Community Aid, Relief, Education and Support (CARES) Clinic was part of a medical student-initiated program dedicated to providing free medical care services to underserved populations in the area. Open on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings, the program provides free, non-emergent, primary care at East Cooper Community Outreach. In 2006, the clinic received its pharmacy license, which allows it to dispense medications to patients. First Baptist Church of North Charleston Medical Clinic: This free clinic provides a comprehensive approach to primary medical care through prevention and education with its adult and pediatric patient populations. With more than 70 percent of its adult patients diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes, the clinic hopes to continue to provide medications and monitoring equipment to needy patients.      Friday, March 2, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.