Memphis and St. Jude celebrate 40 years at the 27th annual "Marguerite Piazza St. Jude Gala"

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC)
Tuesday, 4 February 2003

The 27th annual Marguerite Piazza St. Jude Gala will be an "An Affair to Remember" as hundreds of Mid-Southerners unite on Saturday, February 8 at the Peabody Hotel. The life-saving work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and its 40 years in the Memphis community will be celebrated by guests, including Mayor W.W. Herenton and WMC News Anchor Joe Birch as emcee.

Thanks to Marguerite Piazza, renowned opera singer, the gala is held each year to benefit St. Jude. The event is black-tie optional and includes dinner, dancing and auctions, coinciding with this year's theme "An Affair to Remember." Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. and dinner starts at 7 p.m. Some of the auction items include a lunch with Mayor Herenton, Grizzlies keepsakes that include a ball signed by Jerry West and an autographed jersey by a player, and other exciting items. Musical entertainment will be the Heart and Soul Revue featuring The Bob Westbrook Orchestra, Joan Weiss, Michael Terrace and the Fred Astaire Dancers, and more. A toast will be made, featuring champagne glasses painted by St. Jude patients and their families. Tickets for the evening are available by calling (901) 373-5051. All proceeds benefit St. Jude.

Each year, the gala honors individuals who have shown exemplary and unusual sacrificial service to others with the "Healing Rose Humanitarian Award," represented by a pink Boehm porcelain rose. This year's honored recipients are Bishop Terry Stieb, S.V.D., D.D. The Diocese of Memphis and Larry Kirk, CEO Hancock Fabrics, Inc.

The Catholic Diocese donated land in St. Peter's Village for construction of Target House, a housing facility for St. Jude patients undergoing long term treatment. Kirk is very active in the Memphis community and has served as director for Hancock Fabrics since 1990. Hancock Fabrics has been a supporter of St. Jude since 1996, donating more than $1 million to the hospital from various events and promotions.

The Piazza Gala was founded by Marguerite Piazza in 1975 to benefit the children of St. Jude. A cancer survivor herself, Piazza started the gala when St. Jude founder Danny Thomas, asked her to champion an event that would bring residents of the Mid-South together to assist children battling life life-threatening diseases.

Piazza has thrilled opera lovers at the New York City Opera as well as starring with Imogene Coco and Sid Caesar on "The Show of Shows." She was a headliner in supper clubs such as The Coconut Grove in Los Angeles, The Sands in Las Vegas and The Shamrock in Houston. Such legends as Louis Armstrong and Joey Bishop have been her opening acts. For more information about the Marguerite Piazza Gala, visit www.stjudegala.org.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in Memphis, Tenn., was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas. The hospital is an internationally recognized biomedical research center dedicated to finding cures for cancer and other catastrophic diseases of childhood. The hospital's work is supported through funds raised by ALSAC. ALSAC covers all costs not covered by insurance for medical treatment rendered at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Families without insurance are never asked to pay.

For more information, or to contact St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC), see their website at: www.stjude.org