Miracles Gala

MIRACLES Gala XXI
Saturday, September 25, 2010
6:00 p.m. to Midnight
Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford

Looking back. . .

MIRACLES Gala 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
6:00 p.m. to Midnight
Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford

2009 Beneficiary: Cardiovascular Surgery at Saint Francis

The evening of MIRACLES XX marked the 20th Anniversary of this time-honored tradition of celebrating and honoring the true meaning of giving. On September 12th a record crowd of over 1,300 guests filled the ballroom at the Connecticut Convention Center. The evening's guests enjoyed the ambiance of the Connecticut Convention Center and the spectacular views of Hartford and the riverfront.

Archbishop Mansell, University of Hartford's Women's Basketball Coach Jennifer Rizzotti, and Ray Allen from the Boston Celtics, were three of these guests who joined us for the night's festivities.

While the first MIRACLES Gala was held back in 1990, to mark the just-completed affiliation of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and Mount Sinai Hospital, today MIRACLES is a symbol of so much more. MIRACLES has evolved into one of Hartford's most endearing and enduring traditions, this year raising nearly $900,000 in support of Cardiovascular Surgery at Saint Francis.

The unforgettable evening of MIRACLES XX began once guests entered the Connecticut Convention Center and were greeted by President and CEO Christopher Dadlez and his wife Eileen; ball chairpersons Maureen and Brendan Fox, M.D.; Ellen and Joseph Spalluto; and Maureen, Carolyn and Caitlin Spalluto.

The 20th Anniversary was marked with many highlights this year, among them the opportunity to honor Ranjana and Surendra Chawla, M.D. for their generosity, dedication and commitment to advancing the mission of Saint Francis the past three decades. The evening included a special slideshow showcasing the 20 years of MIRACLES, as well as a "Walk Down Memory Lane" poster collection, chronicling the last twenty years of beneficiaries.

The evening of September 12th will be remembered for a wonderful cocktail hour, featuring a first-time appearance of the risotto bar, ice sculpture, and the widely-used "Buy-It-Now" Silent Wine Auction option. This year's Silent Wine Auction was the largest to date, with over 200 bottles of wine donations, and a unique assortment of wine dinner items to bid on. The cocktail hour was followed by a magnificent gourmet dinner, grand dessert entrance, and great music by the Soulsystem Orchestra which had everyone up and dancing.

Thanks to all of your support demonstrated the night of MIRACLES XX, the beneficiary, Cardiovascular Surgery at Saint Francis, will grow and flourish for many years to come! A sincere thank you goes out to all volunteers, guests, sponsors, Hospital staff and the many others who made this event possible. We look forward to seeing everyone next year, as we celebrate MIRACLES XXI on Saturday, September 25, 2010.