WINONA LAKE – Joe’s Kids 2nd Annual Dinner, Tailgate and Auction brought in over $113,000 for the children at Joe’s, according to a news release from the organization.
It was held at the Heritage Room at Winona Lake. The evening started with over 250 guests arriving in their tailgate attire and ready to bid on silent auction items.
Parkview Health again served as the event sponsor. Tom Roy returned as the master of ceremonies.
The evening included many speakers who play a critical role in the success of Joe’s Kids: Josh Wildman, board president; Jeff Rocket, director of operations of Parkview Warsaw; Rich Hadadd, president and CEO of the K21 Health Foundation; Ted Westerhof, United Way board member; and Rebecca Bazzoni, executive director of Joe’s Kids.
During these presentations, it was announced that, with the help of the K21 Health Foundation, Joe’s Kids will be moving to a new location later this year.
“This move will allow us to continue to grow and bring new opportunities to Joe’s Kids,” Bazzoni stated. Bazzoni acknowledged the many generous sponsors, donors and volunteers who helped to make the evening a success, the release states.
She also paid tribute to Sophia Long, a young patient of Joe’s Kids who passed away unexpectedly Aug. 18. Instead of flowers, her family asked for donations to be made to Joe’s Kids. With this donation, an indoor jungle gym and ball pit will be purchased for the new facility. In honor of Long and the generosity of the Long family, the sensory gym will be known as Sophia’s Playroom.
Also, a surprise video was played while Bazzoni was on stage. Her parents, Don and Laura Davis, of Hamilton, MT, were unable to attend the event and announced they were donating $10,000 to the new facility in honor of Don’s West Point graduation class.
Joe’s Kids is a 501(c)3 nonprofit pediatric rehabilitation clinic that provides physical, occupational and speech therapy to special kids with special needs in Kosciusko County and the surrounding area, the release states. It provides care to children with a wide variety of diagnoses, including cerebral palsy, stroke, Down Syndrome and many other genetic and developmental disorders
