Date Set for the Good Samaritan Heart & Soul Gala

The Heart and Soul Gala organizing committee has announced the Gala event with dinner, dancing and auction will be held Feb. 11, 2023, at the Ritz-Carlton, Reynolds Lake Oconee. The Heart and Soul Gala is the largest annual fundraiser for St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital.

Preparations are officially underway as the group of community volunteers recently met at the Ritz-Carlton to kick-
off the initial planning for the event.

“The community’s support for our Gala and our hospital has been tremendous,” said Becky Smith, Chair
of the St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Foundation Board. “That support makes it possible for our local
hospital to offer our community services, physicians, staff and technology rarely found in communities
our size. It is truly an honor to work with all of our supporters and volunteers to make this happen.”
Since becoming part of St. Mary’s Health Care System in 2012, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital has
received a number of awards for quality. Most recently, the hospital received the American Heart
Association/American Stroke Association 2022 Get With the Guidelines Silver-Plus Award for stroke
care. This award recognizes Good Samaritan for meeting the AHA/ASA’s national quality standards for
stroke care for 12 consecutive months.

The 2020 Gala raised nearly $300,000 and contributed toward the recently completed Capital Campaign.
The Campaign raised more than $3 million to purchase a state-of-the-art 320-slice CT system and a 16
channel MRI system, enabling our healthcare providers to detect and diagnose heart conditions as well
as more efficiently identify and treat stroke patients. Thanks to the Gala’s support, the CT scanner was
installed in 2021 and the MRI will be completed this fall.

The black-tie fundraiser will feature dinner and dancing with a live and silent auction. There will also be
a Sponsor VIP Reception before the main event. Sponsorship opportunities soon will be available for
individuals and businesses ranging from $1,500 to $50,000.

“Our continued commitment and deep support of the Heart and Soul Gala allows us to remain at the
forefront of medical advances and the latest technology to ensure our local hospital can deliver the highest quality care we need, right here, close to home” said Sherri Kerstetter, Chair of the Gala
Committee.

“I want to extend our deepest thanks to our hard-working committee and to all the volunteers who
make the Gala a fun evening for a great cause,” said Sherri. “Hosting this event is a labor of love, and our
volunteers make every single aspect of it possible.”

For more information about the Heart and Soul Gala, please contact Aaron James, Regional Foundation
Director, at aaron.james@stymarysathens.org or 706-389-3926.