Milford Regional Healthcare Foundation's 20th Annual Mélange Gala & Live Auction Raises Unparalleled $1.3 million
Funds to Support Cutting-Edge Surgical Technology Advancements
Milford Regional Healthcare Foundation’s Mélange 2024 Gala and Live Auction—“An Enchanted Evening Awaits”—raised a record-breaking $1.3 million this year. The signature event took place in the retail space in Milford formerly occupied by Best Buy and was attended by nearly 400 Milford area business and community leaders, sponsors, friends and supporters.
The Mélange Gala and Live Auction is the premier fundraiser for the Foundation, providing crucial funds needed to support the most immediate needs of the hospital. The November 2 event marked the 20th year of the annual benefit. Given the emerald theme traditionally associated with 20th celebrations, guests journeyed through the Emerald City-adorned venue inspired by The Wizard of Oz.
In between the cocktail hour and dinner, guests participated in a live auction featuring multiple high-ticket bid items including trips to Tuscany, Aruba and Bordeaux as well as season tickets to the New England Patriots, a Lobster Bake for 50 individuals, and a luxury box for either a Bruins or Celtics game.
The “Fund-a-Need” portion of the auction drew the most participation, as eventgoers made contributions ranging from $250 to as high as $20,000 each to support the second phase of a major renovation to Milford Regional’s suite of eight operating rooms. This year’s Fund-a-Need bids will complement a major gift recently made by the Kevin and Leslie Lobisser Family Foundation to support the surgical renovation. Thanks to the Lobisser Family Foundation and success of this exceptional fundraising event, the Kevin and Leslie Lobisser Family Foundation Surgical Suite will be outfitted with the latest technology available for lights, booms and video integration. Similar to the advancements provided by its three surgical robots, the installation of this industry-leading video integration technology will significantly enhance Milford Regional’s surgical capabilities.
“As we look toward the future, the remarkable success of Mélange underscores our community’s undeniable dedication to helping us advance our patient-focused mission,” said UMass Memorial Health - Milford Regional Medical Center President Edward J. Kelly. “Unprecedented fundraising efforts will once again translate back to Milford Regional’s ability to locally provide outstanding patient care for our amazingly generous donors and all members of our community.”
The Mélange 2024 Gala and Live Auction was hosted by the Meehan Family of Imperial Cars.
“For the last two decades, Mélange donors and supporters have exhibited an unfaltering commitment to support our needs at the hospital,” said Milford Regional Vice President of Philanthropy Emily J. Quinn. “The impact of their generosity continues to resonate within and beyond our hospital walls to improve the lives of those we so proudly serve.”
This year’s top-tier sponsors included:
Emerald ($25,000): Green Site Services Group, Imperial Cars.com, Kevin and Leslie Lobisser Family Foundation and UMass Memorial Health.
Diamond ($10,000) : A.S. Jones & Co., Inc, AllCare Medical Supply, Vascen J. Bogigian, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brown & Brown of Massachuetts, Inc., Consigli Construction Co., Inc., Hillview Equipment, IKS Health, Kimball Sand Company, Inc., Koopman Lumber Company, Lobisser & Ferreira Construction Corp., Milford Anesthesia Consultants, P.C., MIRICK, O'Donnell Electric, Orion Emergency Services, Osterman Family Foundation, Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation, SALMON Health and Retirement, Shine Construction, Inc., SOS Corporation, Mr. Bert A. Thurlo-Walsh and Mr. Michael Walsh, Tinio Corp. and Worldband and UniBank
