8th Annual Denim & Diamonds a Royal Success - Emporia Gazette

More than 350 guests enjoyed a night supporting a great cause during the 8th Annual Denim & Diamonds Benefit for Newman Regional Health at Emporia State University's Webb Hall Friday.

Guests enjoyed food and drinks as ESU theater students dressed as kings, queens and jesters entertained the crowd, as part of the theme: A Royal Knight.

The fundraiser featured more than 200 items between the live and silent auctions, and the bidding process was streamlined thanks to an online bidding program.

Pharmacy Buyer and benefit committee member Michelle Crump said mobile bidding was a new feature for this year's auction.

"We started some new and exciting things this year because everything is wireless," Crump said.

Bidders could peruse the items on display at the event and could also check them online. Updates were sent out via text message, reminding bidders to check on the items they were interested in throughout the evening.

Live auction items included a meticulously carved stone bird bath donated by Allan Tollakson, a pear-shape diamond ring donated by Riddle's Jewelry and Evora Wheeler's famous coconut cream pie. Silent auction items included a variety of gift baskets and items from local businesses and community members.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase of a new nuclear medicine camera for the hospital's cardiology program.

The camera will provide images of blood flow distribution to the heart muscle and function of the heart. The technology would be beneficial in diagnosing cardiac issues such as coronary artery disease.

Newman Regional Health Foundation Executive Director Michael Perigo said the camera would fulfill a great need at the hospital.

"An event like this for a hospital like Newman Regional Health is critical because it helps the hospital keep up-to-date with the latest technology," Perigo said. "The technology will be better and faster than what we have now."

Business Development and Marketing Director McKenzie Cinelli organized the event and said the goal this year was to raise $125,000.

"Our fundraising goal this year is $125,000 and we hope that we can get there," Cinelli said. "We hope that we can get there. That would definitely be a record breaker for us."

Cinelli said the benefit committee has been planning the event for several months and she was excited the day had finally arrived.

"It feels amazing to be here," Cinelli said. "You plan for months and months, and we've been planning since February for the event. It's good to finally be here for the night of it and see how successful it is."

Kansas Senator Jeff Longbine was in attendance for the event and said he felt Denim & Diamonds represented the importance of Newman to the local community.

"I think it's important that the community stand behind the hospital, and fundraisers like this allow that to happen," Longbine said. "A community hospital is extremely important to a town our size. With the auction allowing the hospital to add more equipment, the hospital is able to keep more people here for tests that they would normally have to go out of town for."

Longbine said he has attended the benefit in previous years and he's glad to see its continued success.

"It's a great venue and I know the staff of the hospital work very hard to make it a great night," Longbine said. "Ultimately, it comes down to community support of our local hospital and medical staff. Everybody realizes the importance of having that in our community."

Crump said the number of donors and sponsors for the event showed how committed the community is to supporting the hospital.

"The community is extremely supportive of any function in the area, but I've been on this committee for about three years now, and it's just amazing how every year this has just grown and more items have been donated," Crump said. "The baskets get more creative every day, and it's just amazing the creativity that goes into these donations."

CEO Bob Wright congratulated Cinelli on the success of the event and thanked her and the rest of the committee for all of the work they put into planning the event.

"I just want to congratulate you on the job that you did," Wright said. "This event is just fantastic."

Event emcee Roy Mann thanked guests for their continued support of the hospital.

"None of this would be possible without all of you here," Mann said. "This is a hospital not just for Emporia, but for the surrounding area."

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