Kansas City,
14
February
2018
|
11:13 AM
America/Chicago

Children’s Mercy Red Hot Night Sparkles Once Again

Annual gala benefiting the mission of the hospital raises a record-breaking $2.1 million

The 2018 Red Hot Night gala benefiting Children’s Mercy shattered previous records, raising $2.1 million and attracting more than 1,600 guests to the Kansas City Convention Center’s Grand Ballroom Saturday, February 10.

Swirls of color accented by glow-in-the-dark cups, a signature cocktail filled with champagne bubbles and a Kaleidoscope of Hope geo-desic dome presented by Dimensional Innovations set the stage for an out-of-this-world experience themed around a signature and familiar symbol of Children’s Mercy: the kaleidoscope.

The Hands & Hearts Auxiliary for Children organizes and hosts the annual gala, now in its 14th year. With the support and leadership of honorary co-chairs Ramin & Ashley Cherafat and Tucker & Mandi Trotter, and Red Hot Night event co-chairs Sarah Happ and Michael Schram as well as Hands & Hearts President Bryan Andres, this year’s gala was full of hope and compassion for kids and families cared for at Children’s Mercy.

Hands & Hearts for Children Auxiliary Board president Bryan Andres expressed his gratitude of event attendees, Children’s Mercy staff members and volunteers. “On behalf of the Hands & Hearts for Children Auxiliary Board, I want to thank you all for sharing this night with us and continuing to help us make this one of the best events in Kansas City each year. We are all so fortunate to be here tonight to support Children’s Mercy – a tremendous asset to this community.”

Auction item packages ranged from trips to the Masters Golf Tournament, tickets to Justin Timberlake and the 2019 Super Bowl and a Toyota Highlander donated by the Kansas City Area Toyota Dealers. Former Chiefs quarterback and Kansas City favorite Trent Green served as emcee for the event.

The success of the evening reinforced Kansas City’s dedication to the children and families who rely on Children’s Mercy. Honorary co-chair Ramin Cherafat summed the evening up in one word, compassion, encouraging everyone to “have compassion for all those who rely on Children’s Mercy’s great work.”

Honorary co-chair Tucker Trotter shared a story about his grandfather, former Children’s Mercy volunteer surgeon and founder of the Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic, Dr. Frederick J. McCoy. “They [Dr. McCoy and Dr. Tessier, a visiting surgeon from Paris] volunteered their time and expertise for the same reason everyone at Children’s Mercy works so hard…It’s for the kids!”

With 2018 now in the books, the Hands & Hearts for Children Auxiliary Board is already looking ahead to next year and making the 15th annual Red Hot Night – set for Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019 – bigger and better. Since its inception, this event has grown by leaps and bounds into the consistently sold-out gala that it is today.

 

Learn more about the mission of Children's Mercy and how to Help Our Kids.