The 12th Annual Pineapple Gala is Friday, November 11, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. A circus theme will provide fun for all at the benefit for children’s services at the not-for-profit Homestead Hospital, including Speediatrics, the Betty Jane France Children’s Emergency Center.
The gala will kick off at 7 p.m. with a reception sponsored by the Cruise Charitable Industry Foundation, followed by a scrumptious dinner featuring a variety of gourmet food stations. The Mosquito Heads will provide musical entertainment.
Highlighting this year’s gala are live and silent auctions which will give guests the opportunity to bid on exciting items, including a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two on Celebrity Cruises; a four-star San Francisco wine country escape; Italian cooking school in Tuscany; an escape to Ireland; and a trip to France highlighting wines and fashion.
Children’s services at Homestead Hospital include an eight-bed Children’s Emergency Center that hosts more than 22,000 patient visits a year; an inpatient pediatric unit; and maternity services, where nearly 1,500 newborns are welcomed each year. Proceeds from last year’s Pineapple Gala were used to purchase newborn “onesies” and upgrade the Children’s Emergency Center reception area with child-friendly décor and amenities.
Chairing this year’s Pineapple Gala are Dorsey Goosby, M.D., and his wife, Pauline. Dr. Goosby is a pediatrician with a practice in Homestead, as well as the director of medical information technology for Baptist Health South Florida.
Administered through the Homestead Hospital Foundation, the Pineapple Gala is organized by a group of volunteers from the community. In addition to Dr. and Mrs. Goosby, this year’s gala committee includes Janet Case, Shannan Finocchiaro, Betty Jane France, Kristina Gossman, Mary Gossman, Joanne Jones, Margaret B. Jones, Doylene Losner, Dr. Francisco and Mrs. Eva Medina, Amy Mitchell, Johanna Paterson, Nathalie Salas, Michelle Torbert, Lisa Vari and Judy Waldman.
Tickets to the Pineapple Gala are $150 per person. Group tables also are available for purchase. Donations to Homestead Hospital Foundation are tax-deductible as provided by law.
For questions or information on purchasing tickets or supporting the event, contact Homestead Hospital’s Foundation office at 786-243-8220 or e-mail deliad@baptisthealth.net.