The Friends Gala Raises More Than $315,000 for Saint Francis Foundation

The fifth annual Friends Gala on March 7 at the Drury Plaza Hotel Cape Girardeau Conference Center raised more than $315,000 for the Saint Francis Foundation.

The event drew nearly 500 attendees with more than 20 volunteers on hand to help.

“The money and resources we raise during the Gala provides not only the much needed rehab, medicine, equipment and general finances necessary to regain optimal health after a major life event, it provides hope,” said Jimmy Wilferth, Vice President of Marketing and Foundation at Saint Francis Healthcare System. “Hope is the expectation of a positive outcome, and it breeds strength to fight and believe like never before. Then is when healing has the upper hand.”

Contributions raised at The Friends Gala benefit the CancerCare and CardiacCare funds offered through Saint Francis Foundation. The CardiacCare fund provides assistance with cardiac rehabilitation and other necessary services and equipment for patients unable to afford them. The CancerCare fund helps cancer patients in need with nutritional supplements, medicine, transportation and lodging. More than $522,000 has been provided to more than 10,000 cancer patients and more than $247,000 to nearly 500 cardiac patients over the past four years.

To reserve a table for The Friends Gala on March 6, 2021, call 573-331-5133.