Lakewood Hospital’s ‘Starry Night’ event benefits two causes
By Cynthia Schuster-Eakin
Insights
Published Aug. 5, 2009

Starlit tents on Belle Avenue, adjacent to Lakewood Hospital, provided the summer party setting for the fourth annual “Starry Night” benefit on July 31.

More than 630 guests gathered to help raise funds for two worthwhile causes. The $110,000 in proceeds will go toward funding the Lakewood Hospital Diabetes and Endocrine Center and the Lakewood Arts Festival Scholarship Fund. The hospital’s fundraiser has become the opening event for the popular yearly arts festival.

A highlight of the party was an art auction organized by Linda Goik and Lakewood’s Local Girl Gallery. Artists submitted works ranging from paintings to jewelry, interpreting the theme, “Summer Nights … Under the Stars.” Monica Robins, senior health correspondent for WKYC-TV 3, served as auction emcee.

In addition to the auction, guests enjoyed four gourmet food stations, with food catered by AVI Food Systems and the chefs of nine regional Cleveland Clinic hospitals. The Bottom Line Band provided music for dancing under the stars.

Jack Gustin, president of Lakewood Hospital, said the Diabetes and Endocrine Center will use part of the funds raised to host a conference on diabetes at LaCentre in Westlake this fall.

“Because of events like ‘Starry Night,’ we are able to educate the community and provide assistance to those in need,” he noted. “The center is using event proceeds to host an educational Diabetes Expo on Oct. 29 and to support its Diabetes Assistance Initiative, a program to help the uninsured and underinsured by providing funds for prescription diabetes medications and supplies, as well as scholarships for diabetes education.”

“Having an opportunity to spend a summer evening with friends and colleagues, all while raising money for two important causes, makes ‘Starry Night’ the premier event this summer,” Gustin concluded.

Committee members for this year’s “Starry Night” benefit party included Bill Koziol, Kristin Broadbent, Aimee Smith, Anne Kuenzel, Gina Gavlak, Maureen Duffy, Bob Gleeson, Tony Mohseninia, Bob Battista, Debbie Gaebelein, Nathan Mason, Debbie Sukey, Dan Zezena, Barbara Milenious and Mary Ann Crampton.