Foundation Features Digest

Upcoming Events

Shepherd Center Auxiliary Announces Pecans Fundraiser

The Shepherd Center Auxiliary’s annual holiday fundraiser, Pecans on Peachtree, runs from Nov. 11 to Dec. 24. This is the 30th year for the fundraiser, which has raised more than $1.6 million for patient-related programs and Auxiliary operations since 1982.

All of the fundraiser’s delicious pecan and nut varieties will be available again this year online at www.PecansOnPeachtree.org or at the hospital.

Selections this year include an assortment of glazed pecans, sweet and salty pecans and cinnamon almonds for the nut lover who prefers a sweet without chocolate. Back by popular demand is a larger tin of the Holiday Trio, which was the top seller last year.

The Auxiliary is busy signing up volunteers to work the sales tables inside Shepherd Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and to host “Pecan Parties” in their homes or businesses. If you would like to volunteer, receive a brochure or place an order, call 404-367-1322 or visit the website.

Event Reports

Summer in the City 2013: Delicious Food, Phenomenal Wine and Always a Good Time

For the third year in a row, Shepherd Center Society’s popular Summer in the City fundraiser has been the most talked about event of the summer. More than 400 guests enjoyed the beautiful setting at the Greystone Conservancy at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, delicious food from 11 of the best chefs in the city and 19 wine selections provided by Presenting Sponsor National Distributing Company.

Guests sipped fine wines, sampled many dishes and bid on marvelous items in the largest silent auction the event has had. On the veranda, mixologists captivated the crowd with the sort of drinks that seem complicated, yet refreshing on a muggy summer night. It was a fun evening, a perfect way to break the monotony of the workweek and a great way to meet with friends.

Elizabeth Smithgall, Sonya Hanafi and Frances Marlow

Summer in the City is organized by Shepherd Center Society (SCS), a young adult volunteer group that supports Shepherd Center and serves as advocates for the hospital. Kari Carlos and Lee and Kimbrough Haverstock, co-chairs for the 2013 event, MitchKerpoe the event director and the entire Summer in the City Committee worked tirelessly to plan the event. They did everything from fundraising and selling tickets to securing heavily soughtafter items for the silent auction. Items included vacation trips, relaxing spa escapes, fine wine and beautiful artwork.

This year was the most successful Summer in the City yet, raising $100,000 to support Shepherd Center’s SHARE Military Initiative, a program that provides rehabilitation care for U.S. service personnel who have sustained a traumatic brain injury while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The clinking of wine glasses, the laughter of beautifully dressed guests and the excitement of the silent auction made Summer in the City yet another successful Shepherd Center event.

Atlanta Invitational Golf Tournament Benefits Shepherd Center’s Assistive Technology Program

On April 23, 2013 at the Piedmont Driving Club, BB&T along with ADP presented the Atlanta Invitational, a fundraising golf tournament benefiting Shepherd Center’s Assistive Technology Program. BB&T’s Jordan Kiel, who serves on the Shepherd Center Advisory Board, and ADP’s Richard Primm chaired the tournament, which raised more than $74,000 for the program.

Derby Day Plans Get Under Way as Junior Committee Holds Its First Meeting for 2013-2014

Derby Day 2013 raised nearly $90,000 for the Recreation Therapy Program at Shepherd Center. In preparation for the event’s 32nd year, Co-Chairs Joe Bricker and Joe Mays have already started planning next year’s event with some exciting changes.

Next year’s event will be held at Chastain Horse Park in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. Derby Day Co-Chair Joe Bricker is excited about the change. “Bringing the event in town will really boost attendance,” he says. “Chastain already has some great features that will enhance the Derby Day experience.”

The decision to move the 2014 event inside Atlanta’s perimeter highway is just one surprise Junior Committee members learned at their first meeting in September.

The Executive Committee of the Junior Committee enjoys an outing to an Atlanta Braves game this past summer.

After presenting photo collages from Derby Day 2013 to Co-Chairs Wesley Snapp and Catherine Skeen, Joe Bricker started the meeting by introducing this year’s Executive Board. In addition to the traditional positions, the chairs added some new positions including Internal Communications and Intramural co-chairs to help match members to different recreation leagues around Atlanta. Numerous Junior Committee members play in softball, kickball and volleyball leagues around the city, and connecting with those teams is a natural fit.

Junior Committee members attend monthly meetings from September to April in preparation for Derby Day. This year will be no different as committee members will work together in making this year’s event the marquee Derby Day party inside Atlanta’s city limits. Membership will be open through January 2014.

For more information about Derby Day or to join Junior Committee, contact Cara Roxland at 404-350-7778 or by email cara_roxland@shepherd.org