Sonora, CA…More than $200,000 was raised at Sonora Regional Medical Center’s 16th annual Joie de Vie Gala at Ironstone Vineyards on October 18, a benefit for its Cancer Patient Support Fund and new Diana J. White Cancer Institute. The sold-out crowd enjoyed a festive evening, in spite of the torrential storm that caused a brief power outage, and sent streams of water through the outdoor tent that housed the event. Gala organizer Kathrina McRee says the guests were gracious and good humored about the flooding, with some folks simply kicking off their shoes and rolling up their pant legs as the show went on. “Those of us who worked so hard to make this gala a success were worried the storm would ruin people’s evening,” she said. “But that night, we learned just how kind, generous and supportive our community is. And for days after the event, many of the guests called, emailed or came in to tell us it was the best gala ever. Best of all, we raised an impressive amount of money for a good cause.”

Kate Powell Segerstrom

During the dinner, McRee announced that between the sponsorships, guest reservations, silent auction and donations, the Gala had raised more than $182,000. Kevin Day, tribal chairman of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, brought the fundraising total to $200,000 when he announced that in addition to their $5,000 Gold Sponsorship, the tribe would donate $18,000.

The Joie de Vie Gala, which had “An Evening in Paris” theme, included dinner, a silent auction, and presentation of the 2016 Irving Symons Award. The keynote speaker was former Giants pitcher and cancer survivor Dave Dravecky. French singer-songwriter Madeline Tasquin provided musical entertainment.

The Irving Symons Award was presented to Kate Powell Segerstrom by hospital president Andrew Jahn. The award, named after the late Irving Symons, recognizes long-term, outstanding community service. Former recipients include Irving Symons, Frank Salel, H. Randolph Holder, Robert Cutler, Pete Kerns, Pete and Sue Kleinert, Joe Martin, Chuck and Willy Evans, Mary Laveroni, Pat and Dusty Rhodes, Ty Wivell, Dick Pland, and Bill and Suzy McEntire.

There were over 50 sponsors of this year’s gala, including Gold Sponsors Adventist Health Central Valley
Network; Black Oak Casino; Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians; Caldwell Insurance; California Gold Development Corp.; Chicken Ranch Casino; Debbie and Edward Clinite, DO; Mihoko Fujita, MD; Andrew and Marlena Jahn; Micro-Tronics/Autotech; Sierra Emergency Medical Group; SRMC Medical Staff; Timothy Trujillo, Esq. and Jennifer Neufeld-Trujillo, MD; and Yosemite Pathology Medical Group; Silver Sponsors Adventist Health; Affiliates in Imaging; Anchor Pest Control; Blue Mountain Minerals; Mary Jo Brereton; Century 21 Wildwood Properties; CEP America; Clarke Broadcasting Corp.; Coldwell Banker Segerstrom; Cutler-Segerstrom Insurance Agency; Drs. Phong Dargon and Meredith McBride; Roy and Sheri Disney Family; Michael French, DDS and James Grabow, DDS; Kimberly and Charles Habekost, DDS; Northern California Spine Institute; J. Hart Plumbing; Oak Valley Community Bank; Kate and Charles Segerstrom; Fred Shield, MD and Susan Shield, RN; Sierra OB/Gyn; SmithGroup JJR; Sonora Ford; Donald Westbie MD; and Wheeler & Egger, CPAs; Bronze Sponsors Aspen Street Architects, Inc.; Dodge Ridge; Airell Nygaard, MD; and Pacific Companies, Inc.; and Auction Table Sponsors Albert and Evelyn Barreno; Gary and Marguerite Bulkin; Condor Earth Technologies, Inc.; Front Porch; Darlene and Fred Mathews, DDS; Gianelli & Polley, a Law Corporation; and Mother Lode Storage.