October 4, 2023 – The John C. Fremont Hospital Foundation invites you to a premier Mariposa fundraising event: the Black and White Ball. It’s happening on Saturday, November 4, at the Fairgrounds starting at 5:30 P.M. The theme is Lighting the Way.
Get your tickets now as ticket sales end on October 15.
Your $100 tickets include delicious appetizers and dinner with your choice of entree from Chef Sadie Taylor, live music from local legends The Soul Galaxy, both a silent and live auction, a raffle, and the always popular souvenir photo booth. It’s going to be a night of fun with a few surprises along the way.
Dress to the hilt or in whatever mountain formal means to you, but don’t miss this first-class event. Make it an evening out with your friends. Purchase a table of eight for $800.
Tickets can be purchased online at givebutter.com/jcfhf or in person at the John C. Fremont Healthcare District’s administration office located behind the hospital.
Local chef Sadie Taylor is preparing a feast including your choice of entree: braised short ribs with a cauliflower puree, crispy skin steelhead trout with saffron rice with herbs and dried cherries or marinated and grilled portobello mushroom also with the saffron rice.
Local three-piece band, The Soul Galaxy, will add a female guest singer for the night and set the mood with background music during dinner followed by up tempo rock, blues, reggae, and funk music for dancing after dinner.
In addition to dinner and dancing, the fundraiser includes fantastic items in both a silent and live auction as well as a raffle and the always popular souvenir photo booth.
A sampling of items available for bid: a 2-night stay with breakfast and dinner at Tenaya Lodge, plus two 60-minute spa vouchers; a stay in Murphys with wine tasting; a gorgeous 20 x 20 Penny Otwell original painting of the Merced River canyon in the spring; a McGrath Arts large sculpture; a half day tour for two in Yosemite on e-bikes from Yosemite E-Biking Tours; a set of balsamic vinegar and oil from CostaLivos; a paint and party event at Dry Creek Gallery, and so much more!
Like and follow the Foundation’s Facebook and Instagram pages at JCFHospitalFoundation, or bookmark its website, JCFHospitalFoundation.org, to keep posted on what items will be available. The Foundation will continue to update these pages as donations come in, as well as share additional information.
“Noting the wide array of challenges currently facing the John C. Fremont Healthcare District, now is a critical time to build community support,” said Mike Wichmann, Events Committee Chair.
“Good health is something we all highly value and want to maintain. Time and effort focused on better health is time and effort well-spent. Positive changes at the District can happen easier with unified community support and involvement,” Wichmann continued.
“At the Foundation, we stay focused on our mission of strengthening the rural communities of the Healthcare District to maximize health through partnership and philanthropy,” said Wichmann. “Our vision is for a healthy, well-informed community. Coming to the Black and White Ball is one way for you to help us realize these goals. Plus, it’ll be fun!”
All proceeds from the Black and White Ball directly benefit JCFHD’s programs and services, such as the hospital, Home Health and Hospice, and outpatient services, as well as scholarships and community health programs in our surrounding rural areas.
“This year, we awarded $3,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors pursuing healthcare careers,” said Heather Bernikoff, Foundation President. “We are re-establishing our community grant program and scholarships to District staff to advance their skills and training which improves quality of care.”
“Also this year, we want to significantly increase our giving to the Healthcare District, such as providing up-to-date neonatal equipment,” continued Bernikoff. “JCFHD is not set-up as a labor delivery hospital, but multiple babies are born there each year. We want them and their mothers to have a good experience. This means having the right, up-to-date equipment, and we can only do this with the public’s support.”
Sponsoring the Black and White Ball at the Luminary level this year are the MACT Health Board, Inc. and Yosemite Hospitality, a division of Aramark. Shining Star sponsors are Camarena Health, Foster’s ACE Hardware, Happy Goat, and WIPFLI. Bright Star sponsors are Sierra Asset Management and STI, and sponsoring at the Twinkle Star level is the Bernikoff-Raboy family.
“We appreciate our sponsors signing on to our vision,” said Wichmann. “There is still time for businesses, organizations, and individuals to sponsor this event.”
For more information or questions, contact the Foundation at (209) 966-1166, jcfhospitalfoundation@gmail.com, or visit our website at jcfhospitalfoundation.org.
To stay up to date with the Foundation’s latest news, like and follow JCFHospitaFoundation on Facebook and Instagram. If you would like to support the work of the Foundation but cannot make this year’s ball, you can donate via check to JCFHF, PO Box 1093, Mariposa, CA 95338, or through the online fundraising site at givebutter.com/jcfhf. Donations are tax deductible.
JCF Hospital Foundation board president Heather Bernikoff holds the gorgeous labradorite and pearl necklace and earring set made and donated by Foundation member Saralynn Nusbaum. Saralynn and her husband are also donating a pizza oven dinner party for four to the event. There's something for everyone to bid on at this year's auction at the Black and White Ball.
Poppy Party! Merced River Canyon, a gorgeous 20 x 20 oil painting by Penny Otwell is one of the many fantastic items that will be up for auction at November 4's Black and White Ball. 
The 49ers Foundation has generously donated an official San Francisco 49ers helmet signed by their star linebacker, Fred Warner, to the Black and White Ball. The Niners are having a great year, and Warner is playing extremely well. He is a likely Hall of Famer in the making.
Source & photos: JCFHF
