1. PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Heather Feimster, HOPE Publicity Chairman
Email: heather.feimster@gmail.com Mobile: 815-985-3574
Borger HOPE Gala Refocuses on County Cancer Impact and Local
Business Partnerships
BORGER (Apr. 12, 2016) – Planning for the 2016 Borger HOPE Gala is refocusing on
cancer patient’s needs and engaging local business partners. Chairmen Keegan and
Blair Neill are encouraging the committee chairmen this year to keep as much event
spending as possible in the local community to benefit local business owners and
community members. A renewed commitment to local cancer patients and their needs
is driving the chairmen’s decisions to update and enhance this year’s event.
“The HOPE Gala is the number one per capita contributor to the American Cancer
Society (ACS) in the nation for most of the past 28 years, right here in Hutchinson
County,” Neill explains. “HOPE, among many other great programs here, proves the
true generosity of the people that live in our county. That is something to be
tremendously proud of and worth carrying on.”
Given the recent economic challenges of the area, maintaining community relations and
business partnerships is critical to the success of the event. “Our goal is to focus on
keeping as much money that we spend on the event in the local economy. We have the
opportunity to put money into the hands of the people that we want to help, right in
our own backyard.”
For the Neills, HOPE’s success is personal - Blair's grandparents, Clovis and Leah
Boren, were the Chairmen of the first HOPE event in 1988, as well as several subsequent
years. Blair's parents (Bart and Suzy Boren) were also past Chairmen and have been
various committee chairmen and general volunteers alongside Clovis and Leah for most
of the events. “We agreed to be chairmen this year to help continue the tradition of
HOPE in Hutchinson County and not only to live up to the success of past chairs, but
surpass that past success for the sake of the ACS and those they help. We are excited for
the challenge of building a strong team that can take on and achieve the outcome of
a very successful event,” said Neill.
They continued, “HOPE, to us, means fighting to save people’s lives battling against
cancer. It means betterment for the lives of those who are currently fighting cancer,
helping them where they can't help themselves.”
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2. About The Borger HOPE Gala:
The first Borger HOPE Gala was held in 1988 and since
that time HOPE has donated more than $2.8 million to the
American Cancer Society. HOPE is the 12th largest gala in
Texas and is 14th largest in the High Plains Division
(which includes all galas in TX, OK, MO, KS, NE, HI &
Guam) in terms of total dollars donated to ACS. That
includes 49 different gala events in the Division. For most
of its history, HOPE has led the nation in per capita dollars
raised and donated to ACS.
The 2016 HOPE Gala will be held on Sept. 24 at the Crutch Ranch and will include a
night of good food, live entertainment, dancing, live and silent auctions, and more. The
annual HOPE Gala brings together local volunteers, businesses, and community
members dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients in Hutchinson County.
Proceeds from the event support patient services for cancer patients in Hutchinson
County, as well as ACS’s cancer research efforts.
For more information, visit www.borgerhopegala.org.
About the American Cancer Society:
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more
than three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every
birthday threatened by every cancer in every community.
As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 20
percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in
smoking rates.
Thanks in part to our progress nearly 14.5 million Americans who have had cancer and
countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. We're finding
cures as the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring
people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality
health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more.
For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-
800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org/fight.