The 29th Annual La Grande Soirée, a dinner and dance to support Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Volunteer Guild scholarship program, will be held on Saturday, March 2, at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham. The public is invited to purchase tickets for the event, which helps further the Guild’s goal of providing scholarships to area students pursuing healthcare-related careers.
Since 1979, the Guild has granted more than a half a million dollars in scholarships to students in SBL’s service area, who are pursuing their education in medically-related fields. With today’s shortage of rural healthcare professionals, it’s especially important to touch those just starting their career tract and appreciate the need for quality healthcare in a rural setting. Net proceeds from the Soiree support the Volunteer Guild Scholarship Program. The evening begins with a social hour at 5:30 pm, followed by dinner at 7 pm. and a dance from 8 to 11 pm, with music by Downtime from St. Louis.
As part of the night’s activities, Towne Square Jeweler’s of Charleston will once again sponsor a “Diamond Celebration” in which participants can purchase glasses of champagne for a chance to win a piece of diamond jewelry. Tickets for La Grande Soirée are $75 per person and can be reserved through the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundation.
People can also support the Guild scholarship program by purchasing a raffle ticket for a chance to win a prize package valued at more than $1,000. The package includes 12 gift certificates to area restaurants and overnight stays at both the Unique Suites Hotel in Charleston and the Quality Inn & Suites in Mattoon. Restaurants include Keller Convention Center, Mattoon Golf & Country Club, Roc’s Blackfront, Brickhouse, Cody’s, Dol Sol, Charleston Country Club, Dirty’s Bar & Grill, Andrews at the Westbrook, Hunan Restaurant and more. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10. The winning ticket will be drawn on Friday, March 1 and you need not be present to win.
For more information or to purchase dance or raffle tickets, please contact Kim Lockart in the SBL Health Foundation at 238- or 348-4765 or go to www.sarahbush.org.
Members of the 2013 La Grande Soirée committee are: (Back row, left to right) Kim Lockart, SBL special events officer, Colleen Stoner, volunteer services director, Karen Littleford, Sally Bock, Barbara Hoppin and Lana Esker; (Front row) Kathy Spence; Debbie Sandercock; and Jerri Pine.