16th Annual Celebration of Life and Hope Gala Raises $450,000 to Support Pediatric Cancer Families
· 300+ individuals attend Austin Hatcher Foundation fundraiser
· Presented by Textile Rubber and Chemical Co.
· All funds help Foundation provide services to families faced with pediatric cancer
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Oct. 2, 2023) – The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer closed out Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with their 16th Annual Celebration of Life and Hope gala this past Saturday night, September 30. With the support of more than 300 attendees, this inspiring event raised an impressive $450,000 for the Foundation to continue providing essential care and services to families facing the life-changing diagnosis of pediatric cancer.
Held at the Austin Hatcher Foundation’s 33,000 sq. ft. Education Advancement Center, the gala was a beacon of compassion, hope and community spirit. The evening featured live music, signature cocktails, delicious catering, moving family testimonies and an exhilarating auction that showcased the generosity of the AHF community.
The Percy/Rogiers family, this year's honorary family, shared their heartfelt journey with cancer and AHF’s support through a touching video presentation surrounding the story of eight-year-old childhood cancer hero Brooklyn. Their story illuminates how the Austin Hatcher Foundation offers a lifeline of support, not only to the child with cancer but to the entire family. The video can be watched again at www.CelebrationLH.com.
Chrissy Percy, Brooklyn’s mother, expressed her gratitude for AHF and the support from donors, saying, “If we didn't have someone to walk alongside of us, and be family and community to us, then we wouldn't be making it. Austin Hatcher gives hope in a dark time. We are so blessed to have a second family. I'm grateful, and just want to tell everyone here thank you so much for loving on not only my kids, but also me.”
The live auction was nothing short of spectacular, featuring nine exceptional items, including a one-of-a-kind mosaic table crafted by Brooklyn and her brother, a Porsche Carrera Driving Experience, front row Boston Red Sox Tickets and more!
The generosity extended to the silent auction, where individuals all over the country bid on over 200 packages, ranging from overseas trips to golf packages, sporting event tickets, beach resort stays, and gift cards. All of these items were generously donated by individuals and businesses.
"At the Austin Hatcher Foundation, we focus on restoring hope, redefining tomorrow, and creating a new horizon for children with cancer and thier entire family ,” said Amy Jo Osborn, CEO and co-founder of the Austin Hatcher Foundation. “We are honored, proud and grateful for the support received from our sponsors, donors, attendees and AHF Staff that made Saturday such a successful and special evening. It was powerful to see a community come together to empower lives inflicted by childhood cancer."
The remarkable success of the Gala was made possible by the generosity of presenting sponsor Textile Rubber and Chemical Company, event chairs Stephanie and Daniel Doty, VIP sponsor First Bank, and Platinum sponsors Guide On Group, HamiCo Inc., U.S. Xpress, The Dustin Mullins Team and Mtn. View Auto Group. Full details of all sponsors can be found at www.CelebrationLH.com.
For those interested in sponsoring the 2024 Celebration of Life and Hope or other upcoming Austin Hatcher events, please email melanie@hatcherfoundation.org.
The Austin Hatcher Foundation’s mission is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer for entire families by providing essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of a child’s diagnosis and continuing through survivorship of the whole family. Families of the Foundation are provided with services such as Mental and Behavioral Health Therapy, Grief Groups, Occupational Therapy, Neuropsychological Testing, Family Programs and more, all at absolutely no cost to them.
To learn more about the Austin Hatcher Foundation and its vital work, please visit www.HatcherFoundation.org today.
