Octapharma Presented the Decade of Dedication Gala
Octapharma proudly presented the Decade of Dedication Gala, which was a celebration and expression of appreciation for the vision and mission of Save One Life, the foresight and dedication of Laurie Kelley, and the commitment of all the individuals and organizations that have contributed to making Save One Life a success in the past ten years.
On Thursday, May 12 we welcomed 150 guests from Kenya, India, and Italy internationally, and Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, the Carolina states and New England in the United States to the Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts.
After a reception in the beautifully renovated 1901 mansion, guests moved to a tented pavilion for dinner, and enjoyed presentations by chairman Christopher Lamb, program partner Maureen Miruka of Kenya, India outreach program coordinator Usha Parthasarathy, and, of course, founder Laurie Kelley. Alice Johnson, lead singer for Wildest Dreams, which entertained us with wonderful world music, sang two of her original compositions: "Save A Life," and "One Voice!"
Part of the festivities included acknowledgment of founding board members and sponsors and presentations of three awards: the 2011 Program Partner of the Year, awarded to Haemophilia Association of the Philippines-Cebu; the 2011 Sponsor of the Year, awarded to Wolfgang Marguerre of Octapharma; and the Save One Life Endowment Award, awarded to Eileen Morrow for establishing the Florence Ashe Hogan Memorial Endowment.
Throughout the evening guests could watch a slide show that included over 800 slides of our beneficiaries, their families, homes and travels to our program partner countries by Laurie Kelley. Each table had pictures of beneficiaries who are waiting for a sponsor: we are delighted that 20 guests selected photographs of children they committed to sponsor.
We topped our initial revenue goal of $75,000 by 46% and raised over $110,000!
Thank you to all our gala sponsors, contributors, guests, and Save One Life staff for creating a memorable and uplifting event!
