News
NU's Shawn Watson to Headline Hospital's Big Red Gala
Signing day maybe over and spring ball around the corner but Husker fever is in full swing in Albion with the announcement that the hospital’s foundation is featuring Nebraska coach, Shawn Watson, at its fundraising event on Sunday, March 8th at the Event Center in Albion. The event called the Big Red Gala is the Health Center’s biennial fundraiser with proceeds going for the Foundation’s priority project. This year’s project, the upgrading of radiology equipment to digital mammography, which is used for breast cancer screenings and diagnostic purposes, is the Foundation’s largest equipment campaign undertaken. Total project costs are $340,000 with the hospital funding $215,000 leaving the foundation with a goal of raising $125,000.
Nebraska football coach, Shawn Watson, is in his third year of coaching at NU and his second year as Nebraska’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. Under his leadership in 2007, Nebraska’s offense ranked ninth nationally with 468.2 yards per game. This was Nebraska’s best average since 1997. He has coached NU quarterbacks Sam Keller and most recently, Joe Ganz. In 2008, the Huskers finished second in the Big 12 North with a 9-4 record. Along with head coach, Bo Pelini, Watson is seen as an integral part of Nebraska’s return to football prominence. According to Aprill Murphy, Foundation Director, the Foundation is pleased to be able to feature Watson at its fundraising event. “With Nebraska making its return to football dominance, we were hoping to host a NU coach as we seek to complete this large, important project. We all enjoy hearing about Nebraska football and we know that Watson’s dynamic speaking style will be a big draw for the event,” said Murphy.
Because breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, the hospital’s medical staff, trustees and administration believe that upgrading this radiology equipment is essential to ensure that our rural communities have access to a standard of care that is the most advanced, convenient and equal to those in larger communities. This piece of digital radiology was chosen because it offers unequaled digital imagining, acute detail and clarity and is supported by the most up to date computer technology.
The Big Red Gala will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a catered meal starting at 6:45. Watson’s talk will follow the meal. Like previous Galas, a silent auction featuring new and popular items will run throughout the evening. Items included in this year’s event are a 32” inch flat screen television, a touch screen MP3 player, a Play the West golf package, an outdoor fire pit with 4 Cabelas chaise lounge chairs, live spring flower pot, a digital camera, a hot stone massage package, a car navigation system and numerous other items. A new addition to this year’s silent auction is a secret treasure item, which will be available for raffle the evening of the gala.
Tickets for the casual event-patrons are encouraged to wear their Husker apparel- are $50/person and can be purchased through foundation board members in area towns. Foundation board members are Gene Burton, Fullerton, Cindy Stephens, St. Edward, Katie Mahoney, Cedar Rapids, Cindy Miller, Spalding, Ray Herbert, Newman Grove, Ev Stokes, Petersburg, Nicki Michael, Albion and Todd Heithoff of Elgin. Tickets may also be purchased at the Hospital’s front desk or by calling the Foundation office at 402-395-3252.