GRMC Hosts Successful Blue Jean Ball

Denim, dancing, food, and fun were enjoyed by more than 400 guests during the second Grinnell Regional Medical Center Blue Jean Ball at the Grinnell Athletic and Recreation Center on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Ben Latimer and Mike Pearson served as the masters of ceremonies for the evening, which raised almost $34,000 for GRMC projects. The bulk of the funds will benefit the Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign at GRMC. The total also includes $565 for GRMC’s Arts Advisory Committee and $3,975 for the GRMC Auxiliary, which the auxiliary will use toward its pledge to the campaign.  

One of the many highlights of the evening was the recognition of four individuals chosen to serve as honorary chairs of the GRMC Moving at the Speed of Life campaign. Jewel Kintzinger Day, the late Marion Jones, Leila Maring, and Waldo Walker were all recognized with a standing ovation for their years of service and dedication to GRMC. In her place, Jones’ husband, Addison Jones, was recognized.

 “The Blue Jean Ball is a fun event to raise money and friends for GRMC,” says Ben Latimer, member of the event planning committee and emcee with Mike Pearson. “Everyone has a great time. The auction, the food, the people, music by The Dweebs—it all contributes to an amazing event.”

The evening’s entertainment was provided by The Dweebs, a regional band out of Somerset, Wis. Opening music was provided by Grinnell’s own Broken Record, a group of four Grinnell Middle School students.

Between spins on the dance floor, guests bid on more than 70 live and silent auction items.

“This is the first year that Heidi and I were involved with the Blue Jean Ball,” says Mike Pearson, emcee with Ben Latimer and member of the event planning committee. “We are already looking forward to 2015!”

Laura Nelson Lof, GRMC marketing specialist who led the efforts to plan the event, agrees.

“We have some truly amazing friends,” Nelson-Lof says. “Not only did more than 400 people help celebrate GRMC at the ball, we also had a fabulous planning committee of 17 volunteers and staff helping make this event special for everyone in attendance. A big thanks goes to our sponsors and friends who donated live and silent auction items. The music was fantastic. We are thrilled to have had such a successful fund-raising event. Everyone had a great time, and we are pleased to have raised this generous amount toward our comprehensive campaign.”

Sponsors of the event were: Kintzinger Family Foundation; The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation; Claude W. Ahrens Charitable Trust; Grinnell College; Grinnell Mutual; Oakland Acres Golf Club; ASI Signage Innovations; Axmear Farm, LLC; Grinnell Chamber of Commerce; Grinnell Health Care Center; Denise Lamphier; Vander Linden Construction; Bikes to You – Craig Cooper; Burt Day and Jewel Kintzinger Day; Dr. Kevin and Mary Emge; Family Medicine; Wes Finch Auto Plaza; Foot and Ankle of Iowa – Dr. Matthew McKnight; Grinnell Herald-Register; Grandma’s House – Wendy Kadner; Dr. Nicholas and Stacy Kuiper; Ron and Sally Lang; Lincoln Savings Bank; Bernie Lowe and Associates; Drs. Sam and Michelle Rebelsky; University of Iowa Community Credit Union; and Joanne Yuska.

The Moving at the Speed of Life campaign at GRMC is in the early fund-raising stages. The campaign is raising funds for building expansion, renovations, and state-of-the-art equipment. 

The goal of the campaign is to:

§  Modernize the emergency department.

• Create a walk-in clinic.
• Enhance chemotherapy services.
• Purchase state-of-the-art robotic surgery equipment and a new CT scanner.
• Renovate Postels Community Health Park to accommodate a growing wellness program.
• Establish an endowment to help subsidize operating costs for Grinnell Regional Mental Health Center. 

The total cost to achieve these seven initiatives is $7.5 million. In the initial months of this effort, campaign volunteers have secured gifts and pledges of more than $2.2 million. These early commitments have allowed the medical center to already complete a new chemotherapy suite and purchase a daVinci® Robotics Surgical System.