Ballad Health Foundation presents tickets to paradise with return of Night of Hope and Miracles; proceeds benefit Niswonger Children’s Hospital

Ballad Health Foundation’s Night of Hope and Miracles is returning to Kingsport to offer a slice of paradise and support the future of healthcare in the Appalachian Highlands.

This year’s gala will transform MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center into an elegant, esplanade paradise from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, complete with holiday-themed cocktails, a silent auction and live music. The event also features an experience room that showcases future plans for Niswonger Children’s Hospital and will include actual items used every day in the neonatal intensive care unit.

“The magic returns to Kingsport after a two-year hiatus, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome our guests to a tropical paradise for the Night of Hope and Miracles this year,” said Jack Simpson, president of Ballad Health Foundation. “Our teams have been hard at work creating an exciting and immersive experience for guests, and I know we’re all counting down the days until cast off.”

Tickets can be purchased at https://one.bidpal.net/nohm2022/. Individual tickets cost $150 each, and VIP tables can be reserved for $1,500 and include eight guests and a bottle of champagne. Attendees – donning holiday cocktail attire – will check in at registration upon arrival.

During the evening, guests can enjoy coconut shrimp, Hawaiian luau rice or jerk chicken kebabs in addition to drinks from local craft breweries and cideries, while rocking around the palm trees to live music from Charleston, South Carolina-based band Dave Landeo and the Sol Beats and the returning 17-piece Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra.

Guests can also participate in a silent auction throughout the evening, which will include an autographed Squire by Fender guitar signed by Crystal Gale; a 6-foot tiki bar handmade from walnut and bamboo; and a seven-day trip to San Lucas Mexico at Dreams Resort, complete with a bottle of Claze Azul Resposado tequila. The auction will be conducted via a text link that provides a convenient way for guests to check and make new bids throughout the evening.

“The Night of Hope and Miracles is always a night to remember, and the best part is, it’s about local kids,” Simpson said. “Every dollar raised from this event goes right back to the community, to the children’s hospital that we are so fortunate to have in the Appalachian Highlands.

“Not only do guests get a unique experience at the Night of Hope and Miracles, but your ticket purchase directly invests in the future of healthcare in our region.”

The evening’s festivities will also include the reveal of this year’s Niswonger Children’s Network raffle winners, courtesy of Champion Chevrolet of Johnson City. Four winning tickets will be drawn during the event, including the grand-prize winner, who will get to choose from a 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt or a 2022 Chevrolet Colorado. The second, third and fourth drawings will win $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.

Raffle tickets are still available for $50 each and can be purchased by visiting raffle.balladhealth.org or by calling 423-302-3131 until noon on Dec. 2. Winners must be at least 18 years old, and they do not need to be present at the drawing to win.

“Our teams work very hard to enchant our gala guests each year, and the reward for us is the generosity of this community,” Simpson said. “Through the support from our sponsors and every individual who’s ever given even a dollar to one of our fundraisers, we can ensure the future is bright for everyone in the region.”

Recipients of Inspire Award to be announced
New to this year’s agenda is the presentation of Ballad Health Foundation’s Inspire Award recognition that highlights individuals or couples who demonstrate the highest degree of commitment to advancing the mission of Ballad Health and the overall cause of healthcare in the region through philanthropy, advocacy and voluntary action.

All nominees have shown longstanding commitment to enriching the quality of life in the Appalachian Highlands through commitment to the promotion of health, healthcare, wellness and well-being of everyone who lives in the region.

“We are incredibly fortunate that we have some of the most generous folks in the world living right here in the Appalachian Highlands,” said Julie Lich, chair of the Ballad Health Foundation Board of Trustees. “This award recognizes the hard work of everyone who is nominated, as their dedication and advocacy will shape this region for decades and decades to come.”

Gala benefits Niswonger Children’s Hospital expansion
Proceeds from ticket sales, sponsorships and auction items directly support the Ballad Health Niswonger Children’s Network. This year’s event will benefit the expansion of Niswonger Children’s Hospital, the plans for which were announced during the 2022 Niswonger Children’s Network Radiothon.

“We have a lot of exciting things on the horizon for the Niswonger Children’s Network, and events like these serve as a reminder that the community is behind us 100%,” said Chris Jett, CEO of the Niswonger Children’s Network. “Our leaders at Ballad Health Foundation put on some of the most memorable and exciting events, while at the same time raising money to further children’s healthcare in the Appalachian Highlands.”

The expansion will include the J.D. Nicewonder Family Perinatal and Pediatric Institute, which will create a regionwide opportunity to serve children with complex medical needs, ensuring more families can receive specialty care close to home. The addition of the institute will also ensure more coordinated care between multiple specialists while also providing a clearinghouse for public educational service and participation in research and training.

The new institute will be housed in a building adjacent to the children’s hospital, and the project entered its first phase of construction over the summer. The second phase of construction will vertically expand the hospital with two new floors and a state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit.

“There’s so much to look forward to for the future of healthcare in the Appalachian Highlands, and our hospital expansion is going to open so many doors for families in our region,” Jett said. “The foundation is constantly raising money so every child has access to the comprehensive, quality healthcare they deserve. Support from the foundation and our community members will help us achieve that goal.”

The Night of Hope and Miracles is made possible through community sponsors, including presenting sponsor Citi. Other community sponsors include KVAT Food City, Eastman Credit Union, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Bank of Tennessee, First Horizon Foundation, Hancock Daniel, Bass Berry & Sims, Virginia Electric Supply, Hancock Daniel, First Bank & Trust, PYA and many more.

Night of Hope and Miracles event tickets, details and additional information are available at https://one.bidpal.net/nohm2022/.

More information about the Niswonger Children’s Hospital renovation and expansion is available at https://www.balladhealth.org/news/niswonger-expansion.