First-ever CMH Foundation Gala raises over $52,000 for hospital projects

Over 165 guests gathered Saturday, April 1, at Price Creek Event Center, Amana, to support the Compass Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s first ever Gala. Seats were available for purchase individually, or seating for eight could be purchased as a sponsored table by individuals or businesses. The event space filled with supporters of Compass Memorial Healthcare from across Iowa County and surrounding communities.

“The event took on a life of its own with reserved seating being filled before we could even market the event as planned,” reported Christy Axmear, president of the Compass Memorial Healthcare Foundation and Gala coordinator along with fellow Foundation board members Barb Roggentien, Rona Wyant and Mary Warwick, Compass Memorial Healthcare Foundation director.

The evening began with a social hour followed by a meal prepared by Price Creek, entertainment by Blake Kuesel and Trent Forest, who engaged in an auctioneer battle, and ended with live music entertainment, Hard Barney. Items donated by local businesses and individuals were sold, raising over $52,000.00 in combination with the online auction that was opened in mid-March and ended the night of the event.

“We are overwhelmed with the outcome of this first year’s Gala,” continued Axmear. “We are so appreciative of the donations that came in for the event. Without those local donations the auctions would not have been as successful. We truly live in great communities that are giving.”

Funds raised from the Gala will be used in supporting future endeavors of the hospital, including a new renovation project slated to begin in fall of 2023. The prospective changes will enlarge the emergency department from four private treatment rooms to eight with an isolated trauma area. It will also provide an enclosed ambulance drop off to provide shelter for patient transfer.

In addition to work being completed to the emergency department area, private patient rooms will be enlarged and a new med-surg nurses’ station will be constructed.

“We have been reviewing plans over the past months and will continue until final designs have been submitted for each department receiving renovations,” reported Barry Goettsch, chief executive officer of Compass Memorial Healthcare. Goettsch led the hospital through its last renovation/construction in 2016-2018.