Duke Children’s Gala Total Announced!
We’ve tallied our expenses and are thrilled to announce that our total for the Duke Children’s Gala is $236,795! Our goal for the evening was $150,000, and attendees helped us raise over $200,000 through the live auction, live appeal, and the Sip & Sparkle drawing. These funds will support world-class patient care, cutting-edge research, and the education of future pediatricians and child-care specialists. Discoveries made at Duke Children’s impact kids not only in North Carolina, but also around the world. Thank you for your continued support.
Read on to learn more about this incredible evening for Duke Children’s, check out our gallery of photos, and make sure to watch our Gala recap video for highlights from the night!
The 2018 Duke Children’s Gala, held Saturday, April 21, at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, was attended by over 320 guests. The evening was full of excitement and surprises. Greg Olsen from the Carolina Panthers was present, and Duke student athletes including men’s basketball players Grayson Allen and Justin Robinson and women’s soccer player Abby Pyne also stopped by to add some Blue Devil flair. Auctioneer Leland Little led a thrilling live auction and an energetic and inspiring live appeal. The Sip & Sparkle drawing—entrants had the chance to win a $5,000 diamond tennis bracelet from Fink’s Jewelers—added an additional sense of anticipation to the evening.
Jim Kelly of MIX 101.5 was the evening’s emcee, and also shared his own Duke Children’s story: his now-13-year-old twins were born at 26 weeks at Duke Children’s. We shared a video about Heath Tuttle, a spirited and sports-loving ten-year-old who received a heart transplant at Duke Children’s when he was eleven months old. Heath, who is a huge Duke fan, was surprised onstage by Grayson Allen, who gave him a signed basketball.
We closed the night by inaugurating a new Duke Children’s tradition: the Duke Children’s Hero Award. This individual must be an advocate, supporter, partner, and friend of Duke Children’s—someone who is willing to devote their own time and resources to help further the Duke Children’s mission of providing the best care to every child. This year we presented two awards. The first went to Stanton Simmerson, a Duke Hospital nurse who has organized the All-Star Ride for Life motorcycle rally for Duke Children’s since 2000. This event has raised nearly $300,000 for Duke Children’s. Our second award was a surprise for its recipient—our emcee and longtime friend, Jim Kelly. Jim’s willingness to share his story and be a tireless ambassador for Duke Children’s makes him a true hero in our eyes. 
This was a wonderful evening full of surprises, celebration, and incredible support for Duke Children’s! We want to thank our Gala sponsors, auction item donors, volunteer committee members, event volunteers, and everyone who contributed to help make this an incredible night for Duke Children’s. Together, we have helped build a healthier tomorrow for our children.