On August 28, the Truman Medical Center (TMC) Lakewood Auxiliary hosted its fifth annual Evening Under the Stars fundraiser to benefit the Hello Baby campaign to relocate and expand the TMC Lakewood Family Birthplace. Evening Under the Stars raised more than $30,000, surpassing its $25,000 goal to purchase a Giraffe Incubator from GE for the TMC Lakewood Family Birthplace — and doubling its 2009 proceeds. With more than 250 guests in attendance, this year’s Evening Under the Stars was the Auxiliary’s largest fundraiser.

“I’d like to thank Helen Ferguson, event chair, the Evening Under the Stars committee and the entire Auxiliary for making this event a success,” said Leslie High, Director of Philanthropy for the TMC Charitable Foundation. “These funds will bring us closer to opening the state-of-the-art TMC Lakewood Family Birthplace and will help us provide our mothers and babies with the highest quality medical care and latest technology available.”

The Hello Baby campaign is in the final phase of an $8.6 campaign to raise the remaining $4 million necessary to complete the expansion and relocation of the TMC Lakewood Family Birthplace. Expansion plans for the 19,290 square foot Lakewood Family Birthplace include 19 new Labor/Delivery/Recovery/Post-Partum (LDRP) rooms, two new operating/C-section rooms, an upgraded four-bed patient triage area and a large nursery with a separate isolation area for privacy or sick babies.

The TMC Lakewood Auxiliary has provided more than 40 years of service and dedication to the patients, staff and long-term care residents of TMC Lakewood. The Auxiliary has raised/donated more than $3 million for TMC Lakewood. This money has purchased medical equipment such as cardiac and fetal monitors, wheelchairs and anesthesia equipment for the TMC Dental Clinic.

About Truman Medical Center Lakewood Auxiliary

The Truman Medical Center Lakewood Auxiliary vision is to promote and advance the welfare of Truman Medical Center Lakewood, its patients and residents.  If you are interested in joining an organization whose mission is to help others, please contact us at 816.404.9710.

About Truman Medical Center Charitable Foundation

Truman Medical Center Charitable Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in 1979 to support Truman Medical Centers through the deliberate identification of funding sources and the stewardship of donations from generous corporations, foundations, and individuals.  For more information, please call (816) 404-3430 or visit www.trumed.org/foundation.