There will be Bond-ing at Memorial's gala

October 31, 2008 01:07 pm

— BY TED POTTS
TPOTTS@TRIBDEM.COM
Sophistication will be the order of the day when the Auxiliary of Memorial Medical Center presents its annual gala.
“Bond, James Bond” is the theme of this year’s event, which will feature all things relating to the fictional British super spy made famous in books and movies.
The gala will be held Nov. 22 at Sunnehanna Country Club, 1000 Sunnehanna Drive, Westmont.
The country club will be transformed into Bond’s haven, complete with exotic cars and leading ladies – or “Bond girls.”
Proceeds from this year’s gala will benefit Memorial’s cardiac services.
An expansion of the medical center’s cardiac care facilities is under way.
The project includes expansion of the cardiac catheterization lab and creation of an adjoining 16-bed care unit.
Work began in the summer and is expected to be completed next spring.
The 2007 gala benefited Memorial’s new palliative care unit. More than $100,000 was raised.
Co-chairwomen Helene Gleason and Eileen Graham are looking forward to the Bond gala.
Gleason is communications coordinator and physician liaison at Memorial Medical Center.
Graham is administrator and marketing director at LaurelWood Care Center, Upper Yoder Township.
“We’re really excited; it has generated a lot of excitement,” Graham said.
“People are eager to see what we will be doing.”
Various people will be dressed as Bond characters, said Graham, who is auxiliary president.
Committee member Eileen Fiorina of the Conemaugh Diabetes Institute selected the dinner menu.
Each course has a Bond theme. Beef Wellington, for instance, recalls “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” Fiorina also selected sea bass and caprese (“Casino Royale”) smoked salmon (“You Only Live Twice”), deviled eggs and caviar (“Die Another Day”) and asparagus with bearnaise sauce (“Thunderball”).
Drinks also follow the Bond theme, such as mint juleps from “Casino Royale” and Smirnoff vodka red from “Dr. No.”
“You can learn all about James Bond from your dinner,” Gleason said.
After dinner there will be dancing to Jeff Jimerson & Airborne! from Pittsburgh.
The evening will include what Gleason termed “special entertainment.”
While she declined to be specific, she said it will be part of the Bond mystique.
Sunnehanna’s entire ground level will be utilized for the gala.
A section of the upstairs will be dedicated to “Casino Royale”-style gaming, including roulette and blackjack.
Guests will be given gaming chips when they arrive and will have opportunities to purchase additional chips.
“The more chips you buy, the more chances you’ll have to win,” Gleason said, noting that various prizes will be awarded for the games.
Live and silent auctions also will be held, she said.
Among items in the live auction will be a Bond-inspired Rolex watch, a getaway to Bedford Springs Hotel and golfing at the Saucon Valley Country Club north of Philadelphia, where the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open will be held.
The silent auction will include such items as gift certificates from area businesses and Pittsburgh Penguins tickets.
More than 400 people attended last year’s gala.
Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Duke are honorary chairman and chairwoman for the event.
Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $100 per person, and the deadline for purchase is Nov. 14.
Information: 534-3903 or 255-1488, ext. 157.

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