Dr. Arthur Lauretano of Andover Co-Chairs Circle Health Ball For Community Health Initiatives

A sold out crowd of nearly 600 guests celebrated at Circle Health’s Ball for Community Health Initiatives on Saturday, March 7, 2015. The event, held at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel raised over $297,000 to help fund vital health and wellness programs which benefit residents of the Greater Lowell community.

“The Circle Health Ball for Community Health Initiatives has been an incredible event for ten years that represents a wonderful partnership between Lowell General Hospital, our dedicated physicians, partners and members of the community,” said Norm Deschene, President and Chief Executive Officer of Circle Health. “We normally raise funds for three local charities, but to celebrate our tenth annual ball we felt it was appropriate to recognize ten worthy non-profits this year that will focus on supporting the health and well-being of young people in our area.”

“This year’s ball carried on the tradition of highlighting just a few of the many organizations that are doing amazing work in our communities,” said Deschene. “The Ball committee, led for the first time this year by Dr. Arthur Lauretano of Andover and Dr. Rebecca Shore of North Reading, did an outstanding job in creating an event where everyone had a wonderful time while making a difference for those in need in the communities we serve.”

The ten local non-profits awarded Community Health Initiative Grants for 2015 are:

• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell “Healthy Kids Program”
• Dracut Public Schools “Peer Mentoring Program”
• The Center for Hope & Healing “LGBTQ Youth Wellness Program”
• Girls Inc. “Healthy You Program”
• Greater Lowell Technical High School “A Mother’s Journey – Your Actions Create Your Tomorrow”
• Lowell Public Schools “Celebrating Healthy Harvests”
• Lowell House, Inc. “Healthy Choices – A Diversion Program For Teens”
• Merrimack Valley Food Bank “Operation Nourish, A Children’s Feeding Program”
• New England Eye “Expansion of Mobile Eye Care Services for Remedial Summer School Program”
• Tewksbury Police Department “Substance Abuse Prevention”

A special Fund the Need auction was also held at the event as a way to raise additional funds for these ten worthy causes where the winning bidder received a stunning diamond necklace donated by Barmakian Jewelers in Nashua.

For the third year in-a-row, flowers from the evening were donated to the Power of Flowers project. The Power of Flowers Project delivers flowers free to recipients that are chosen through many channels, including community outreach programs, friends, elder services, home care organizations, senior centers and cancer clinics.

This year’s event was made possible through the generosity of Diamond Sponsor Enterprise Bank; Sapphire Sponsors: Commonwealth Radiology Associates, Merrimack Valley Emergency Associates, Tufts Medical Center, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center; Emerald Sponsors: Armstrong Ambulance, Dr. Mark Gilchrist, Lowell Sun, Mill City Medical, PRIDEStar EMS, Sage Bank, Shields Health Care Group, Trinity EMS, The Lowell Five, UMass Lowell, Watermark; Photo Sponsor: O’Connor Studios; Lounge Sponsor: Eastern Bank.

The ten 2015 Community Health Initiative grant recipients will be presented with their awards on March 31st at 10:00a.m. at the Main Campus of Lowell General Hospital with a special reception in their honor.

The Circle Health Ball for Community Health Initiatives was established in 2006 by Lowell General Hospital, its dedicated medical staff and concerned members of the community to generate awareness and funds to help address significant health issues facing our community. Net proceeds benefit the hospital’s Community Health Initiative programs. Past events have supported Lowell Transitional Living Center Health Care Navigator Program, UTEC’s Preventing Substance Abuse To Help Youth Succeed Program, International Institute of Lowell’s Refugee Behavioral Health Initiative, Habitat For Humanity of Greater Lowell Building Affordable Houses for Families In Need, UMass Lowell’s Public Awareness To Improve The Quality Of Life For Those Residents Affected By Asthma, Greater Lowell Technical High School Opiate awareness and prevention, Circle Home – Home Health & Hospice Home Care Program and the Open Pantry.