The MED Foundation of Mercer Health hosted more than 400 people at the annual Mercer Health Charity Ball on November 19, 2022 at Romer’s Catering in St. Henry. Guests enjoyed an elegant Moonlight Masquerade themed evening, complete with a cocktail social, a three-course meal and live entertainment.

Unique entertainment during the event included an accordionist played during the event’s cocktail social, live dancers, and Jonas Woolverton in the Volta Wheel. Live music by Brena Band, from West Michigan, rounded out the evening’s entertainment.

In conjunction with the Charity Ball, a 2023 Red Mist Metallic Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe was given away in a 1,000 ticket reverse raffle. Lori Shellabarger of Mendon won the Corvette with ticket #52. Darby Wehrley of St. Henry was also a winner—as the first ticket drawn, he won a vacation to Myrtle Beach donated by raffle sponsor iHeart Radio.

“The MED Foundation is so grateful for the community’s continued support,” Deb Hemmelgarn, MED Foundation Director and Event Chairperson, said. “The Mercer Health Charity Ball would not be possible without the continued support of our many generous sponsors.”

Sponsors for the 2022 Charity Ball included:

 “The Charity Ball continues to be a unique and elegant fun-filled event for our guests. I am so thankful for the dedicated committee who willingly share their many talents with the MED Foundation and Mercer Health by helping to put on this great event,” Hemmelgarn said. “It takes a year of meetings, planning and dreaming to pull off a successful event like this.”

The 2022 Charity Ball committee included Vennila Amaran, Danielle Dues, JoAnn Hartings, Connie Hein, Deb Hemmelgarn, Stacy Klosterman, Mindy Kremer, Jenni Miller, Stacy Schwieterman, Dee Uhlenhake, Mandy Wendel, and John Yoder.

The Charity Ball, reintroduced in 2015 to commemorate Mercer Health’s 65th anniversary, dates back to 1950. The original Charity Ball, orchestrated by the now disbanded Auxiliary of Mercer County Community Hospital, set a gold standard for local community social events while supporting the hospital. In its reincarnation, the Charity Ball, now coordinated by a committee of volunteers from the community led by Hemmelgarn, continues to support the local healthcare needs of the community. Proceeds from this year’s Charity Ball will support the Mercer Health Surgical Center.

The 2023 Mercer Health Charity Ball will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023.