By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Progress continues on the new Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic on the west edge of the city. Ellinwood Hospital Foundation Director Kristy Rupe said much of the work on the outside is done ahead of the cold months but plenty of work will be going on inside. While construction continues, the foundation is gearing up for its biggest fundraiser of the year: the Annual Christmas Gala on Saturday, Dec. 9 at the St. Joseph Parish Center in Ellinwood.
"Doors open at 5:30," Rupe said. "There's a nice social hour. The silent auctions are going to be going all through the evening. We're shaking it up a bit. It's going to be an open bar. It's a full-course catered meal."
The fan-favorite honey-pecan chicken returns for dinner at 7, and there will be live music during the meal as Ellinwood High School's Mystic Blues perform. Mike Niedens will begin the live auction at 8 p.m. Along with the silent and live auction, the foundation is selling $5 raffle tickets for a gift card bouquet worth approximately $500 in gift cards. Mistletoe Money also returns as a fan favorite.
"We only have 50 tickets we're selling of those," said Rupe. "If we call your number, one of 50, you get $500 to spend during the live auction."
Tickets will sell fast. Individual tickets are $50, a standard table for eight is $400, and VIP tables for eight are $500. Purchase tickets by Nov. 30 for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Ellinwood Packing. Tickets may be purchased by calling (620) 566-1054, or by CLICKING HERE.