Kickoff Provides Preview of November's Legendary Party
Themed “Sakura – Blossoms of Renewal,” the kickoff was the first in a series of events leading to the 2019 Legendary Party.
Consul General of Japan, The Honorable Takashi Shinozuka, and his wife Mrs. Shinozuka graciously welcomed Shepherd Center guests to the Consul General’s residence in Buckhead, calling it “a huge honor for us to host the 2019 kickoff of Shepherd Center’s Legendary Party.”
Held March 20, 2019, the event, themed “Sakura – Blossoms of Renewal,” was the first in a series of events leading to the 2019 Legendary Party, scheduled for November 2, 2019. The party will be held at Flourish, the Buckhead venue of Legendary Events. Legendary Party Chair Janie Fickling Skinner joined Counsul General Shinozuka in thanking guests for their enthusiasm for the upcoming Legendary Party. She added that funds raised will support Shepherd Center’s Recreation Therapy Program.
The “Blossoms of Renewal” theme was inspired by Janie Fickling Skinner’s grandfather, William Arthur Fickling, Sr., who gave hundreds of thousands of the original cherry trees to Macon, Georgia, that led to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in that city. Special guest Carolyn Crayton of Macon founded the city’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival. She has been to Japan six times and was awarded Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun with Silver and Gold Rays, the country’s highest award, from the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
Consul General Shinozuka explained, “For us, the cherry blossom represents peace and renewal.”
Alana Shepherd, co-founder of Shepherd Center, thanked Consul General Shinozuka for hosting the beautiful party in his residence and presented him with a fine collectible Moulthrop bowl fashioned of Yoshino cherry tree wood. Guests mingled at the Kickoff party as they enjoyed the splendid buffet and table decorated with cherry blossoms and roses by Legendary Events. Midtown Restaurant Nakato served sushi to complete the cuisine. Peter A. Dames will serve as honorary chairman for this year’s Legendary Party and Melinda Dabbiere has been selected as chair-elect.
The Legendary Party is Shepherd Center Foundation's largest fundraising event. Held annually on the first Saturday in November, The Legendary Party has raised more than $20 million dollars for Shepherd Center's patient care programs. For more information on attending the 2019 Legendary Party, please contact Erin Schuster, Special Events Manager at 404-350-7304 or erin.schuster@shepherd.org
Written by Laurie Coleman and Susan Tucker
Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, multiple amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. Ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top 10 hospitals for rehabilitation and the best in the Southeast, Shepherd Center treats more than 850 inpatients and 7,600 outpatients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.