Foundation gala a success for CFVH

Turnout was higher than expected on Saturday for the Clark Fork Valley Hospital Foundation’s annual gala fundraising event held at the Sanders County Fairgrounds in Plains. About 75 people attended the tropical-themed event featuring a lavish meal prepared by the hospitals’ own resident chef, Pearce Milton, and entertainment provided by the comedy/music trio, “The Singing Sons of Beaches” from Polson.

According to the Executive Director of the Foundation Barry Fowler, the primary function of the Foundation is to raise funds for various hospital equipment and technology. The money raised by the gala and other Foundation events including an annual golf tournament in September will allow the hospital to purchase a new X-ray machine and new ultrasound, vision screening, sterilization and respiratory rehabilitation equipment. Fowler said he was, “very pleased with the great reception” on Saturday.

Tables adorned with seashells, starfish and multicolored glasses along with Hawaiian style leis greeted guests as they arrived to the gala. According to Fowler, the Clark Fork Valley Hospital Foundation raised over $200,000 in the last five years and the gala is one way of raising funds, community awareness of Foundation activities as well as serving as a way of thanking the community for its support. In only its second year, the gala has proved to be a successful way of engaging the local community in hospital affairs.

In the spirit of the tropical theme for the evening, Dietary Manager for the Clark Fork Valley Hospital Pearce Milton began the meal with hors d’oeuvres complete with a centerpiece of carrots and green peppers cut to resemble palm trees and a light salad with a mandarin orange vinaigrette followed by the main dish of Jamaican jerk chicken and coconut jasmine rice.

Ably assisted by a team of volunteers, Milton finished the meal with a choice of dessert: a chocolate mousse garnished with a delicate mint leaf or a traditional southern hummingbird cake made with bananas, pineapple and finished with a cream cheese frosting. Joking with the crowd, Fowler assured them that someone had indeed brought real hummingbirds for the culinary occasion.

“The hospital is a great place to work with great people,” Milton added.

Following dinner was live entertainment provided by Polson’s own “The Singing Sons of Beaches.” Combining a back-and-forth style comedic banter with, in their words, a type of folk music known as “bonfire folk” and sporting matching Hawaiian style print shirts; the band provided humor and harmony to a packed house. Consisting of Steve Riddle from Libby, MT on bass, Nick Terhaar from Miles City, MT on guitar and Greg Devlin of Polson, MT on piano and guitar, the band played songs inspired by a “Western state of mind” and “designed specifically for Montana people.”

The band, having performed all over the state for the last 10 years, were all born and raised in Montana and according to Devlin, “come from a long line of musical tradition and we don’t use any of it.”

The bands’ appealing combination of wit and rhyme clearly resonated with the approving crowd. “The Singing Sons of Beaches” will return to Plains for the Sanders County Fair in September.

While acknowledging the success of the evening, Fowler indicated he was already looking forward to future Foundation events. Fowler remarked that the next big event, the golf tournament in September, raised nearly $12,000 last year.

“Next year the gala will be bigger and better. Hopefully people will hear about this and decide it’s something they want to take part in.”