DESIRÉE DECOSTE
STAFF WRITER
The man of 1,000 voices, André-Philippe Gagnon, was the entertainment at the 25th annual Lennox and Addington County General Hospital (LACGH) Foundation Gala Thursday.
In total, over 200 people attended the sold out event which grossed roughly $46,259.
“2020 marks 25 years that the Foundation through the community has been supporting the LACGH and as such the Foundation is celebrating by purchasing a piece of equipment worth approximately $25,000,” Michelle Dickerson, Executive Director of the LACGH Foundation said. “The equipment supported is what is called a US Probe Sterilizer and costs $25,472. This piece of equipment will prevent ultrasound probe cross-infection and will protect patients and staff from infection.”
The gala commenced at 6:30 p.m. with cocktail hour where attendees whet their palette with wine and a charcuterie of a selection of cured meats, artisan cheeses and rustic breads with herb infused olive oil.
At 7:30 p.m. The Catering Company served salad which had beautiful fresh spring greens, beets and chèvre all drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. The main course was a delicious anniversary trio and included poached salmon with a lemon dill sauce, a braised chicken thigh with a white wine and mushroom sauce and a rib-eye medallion of beef with a peppercorn sauce with new potatoes and carrots as the side.
Dessert was not for the faint of heart-or stomach- as a rich decadent chocolate hazelnut cheesecake with fresh raspberries was indulged upon and enjoyed by gala attendees.
Gagnon, an award winning singing impressionist from Quebec City entertained guests with his all new show “The History of Rock and Roll” from singing Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World and going through the ages eventually tuning into newer age music with CeeLo Greens Crazy.
To finish his act Gagnon impersonated a saxophone and if you weren’t watching, you would think he really had one with him.
“It feels pretty amazing to be celebrating the 25th year of the Foundation.” expressed Dickerson “A huge part of the success of the past 25 years is a direct result of the area’s community support and the volunteers who give of their time.”
Sponsors for the event included:
Gala-The Haggerty family
Gold-Lions Club of Napanee
Silver-Robert and Mary McBride
Patrons-Alice and John Carlson, Dennis and Debbie Chadwick, Deb and David Coles, Elwood and Marg Hughes, Kinsmen Club of Napanee, Paul’s Lenadco Pharmacy
Wine sponsor-Tim’s Truck & Equipment Services Inc.
Decoration sponsor-Gregory and Susan Leggatt
Beer sponsor-MacKinnon Brothers Brewing
Other LACGH Foundation Gala Committee members include: Mike Airhart, Deb Coles, Cindy Haggerty, Robert Hough, Stephen Paul, Kelly Schermerhorn and Cathy Whalen.
For more information on the hospital and its foundation please visit web.lacgh.napanee.on.ca