Covenant Hospice Garden Gala this Saturday!

By Karen Nichols

Covenant Hospice and their dedicated group of volunteers are feverishly working to make this year’s 4th Annual Covenant Hospice Garden Gala event a spectacular night to remember. If you are not familiar with the Garden Gala, it is Covenant Hospice’s largest fundraising event of the year and crucial to furthering Covenant Hospice’s mission to provide services in the Marianna area.
Larry Polston and a handful of gracious volunteers will continue with the "Southern Garden" theme this year, and are decorating in beautiful hues of browns & creams, lush greenery and will follow it up with soft lighting. Covenant Hospice volunteer, Sheila Hayes, who definitely has a green thumb, and has been keeping the blooming plants beautiful this past week. Larry says he is tickled to be working with Covenant Hospice and its volunteers. "They are angels sent from God", he exclaimed.
In addition to the beautiful swings & picnic tables, which were carefully crafted by JCARC & WCI and hand painted with pain staking care by local artist, being up for bid, volunteers, Robert Redmond & Sybil Niemetz, otherwise known as the "Dynamic Duo", have rounded up over 100 great items for the silent auction. Among these items for auction you’ll find something for every age group, and you’re sure to get a good deal. The items up for grabs include everything from autographed merchandise from Audrey Hepburn, Miley Cirus, The Jonas Brothers, to Diamond necklaces, weekend attractions and resort getaways, and merchandise & services donated by local merchants.
Neysa Wilkins of WJHG will emcee the event with musical entertainment provided by The Sauce, and the highlight will be a performance from Country Artist Shane Owens. The event will also include coffee tasting, wine tasting, a chocolate display, a flower market, garden art, live auction and memory garden. You may also enter for a chance to win a one week getaway at the 5 Palms Beach House in Destin, Florida, graciously donated by the Mohon family.
Event Chair, Gail Wesson says "last year’s event was gorgeous, but this year will be even better". She says even with the economy the way it is, people are still supporting and caring about hospice. "We have a wonderful group of volunteers here, and no words can describe the warm feeling you get from the heart"
The Covenant Hospice 4th Annual Garden Gala will be held Saturday, June 27th at the National Guard Armory. Tickets for this magnificent event are $40 per individual and $75 per couple and attire is "garden social". For more information contact Jennifer Griffin at (850) 482-8520 or (888) 817-2191 or you can visit covenanthospice.org. All proceeds benefit local Covenant Hospice.