Press Release

Fern Garred and Senior Chair Poinsettia Ball on 25 th Anniversary

When Fern Garred conceived the idea of the Burgess Foundation Poinsettia Ball 25 years ago, she didn't envision that her "really nice party" would become the biggest and most popular holiday evening social event of the year in the Onawa area.

The annual Poinsettia Ball, sponsored by Burgess Foundation, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with events on both Dec. 4 and 5 with Dr. John Garred Sr. and Fern serving as honorary chairs.

"We started the foundation to raise money and I was just racking my brain to come up with a fun way to bring in extra funds. I thought the ball was a good excuse for people to spruce up a bit and have a good time."

The ball has offered a gift auction from the beginning to generate money to build up Foundation funds, according to Fern. But after a number of years, hospital administrators asked for contributions for projects they couldn't afford. The ball also initially rotated between Blencoe, Mapleton and Onawa, but then outgrew space in the other towns. It's been at the Onawa Community Center now for many years.

Fern served on the Burgess Foundation board for many years and chaired for seven or eight years before turning over the reins to others. She only missed one year of the special holiday event in its 25-year history. Today she's proud of how the ball has grown.

"You can't help but be proud when you look back over the years to know something you did was successful."

In honor of the 25th anniversary a champagne brunch has been added for Friday, Dec. 4. It will offer valet parking, an elegant buffet, a harpist and gospel group performing holiday music and silent auction gifts for bidding.

The evening Poinsettia Ball follows on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. with a buffet steak dinner catered by Staley's. Live dinner music, music by Wave Length and silent and live auctions will be other highlights. Everyone is invited.

Proceeds this year will help Burgess Health Center and area physician clinics with funding hardware and software for an Electronic Medical Record system that, for the first time, will allow providers to have updated patient data at all hours of the day on the same system.

The brunch tickets will cost $35 in advance. Ball dinner tickets of $50 per person in advance.

Tickets can be reserved by calling Shirley Bruegger at 712-423-9374. Or purchase tickets on line at wwwburgesshc.org.