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“Vino Ball of Celebration”

To benefit the local Ronald McDonald House 

In November, 2007…Sandy Harper and Dana Hall-Bradley were talking about how hard it is to have a sick child and how it must be even more difficult during the holidays.  So, they decided to have a charity event to benefit the local Ronald McDonald House…a place that has a special spot in their hearts because of the help that was given to their loved ones during a medical crisis.  When he was 10 months old, Sandy’s nephew, Beau, was rushed by helicopter to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida where he under-went emergency brain surgery and endured months of recovery.  During those months, Sandy’s brother & sister-in-law were able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House instead of having to drive hours each day to see their baby.  Dana’s niece, Tara, had to undergo a bone marrow transplant at All Children’s Hospital, when she was a toddler, which caused her brother & sister-in-law to reside at The Ronald McDonald house for months. 

After only three weeks of planning, Sandy & Dana held a wine tasting event at “Sienna Flats” at The Water Tower Place in Celebration and, with 30 people in attendance, were able to provide gift cards and toys for the local Ronald McDonald House in December, 2007. 

The gratitude of the families that benefited that year, prompted Dana & Sandy to hold the event every year and to give it a name ~ “Vino Ball of Celebration”!  While sharing their story with Jetse Pottinga, General Manager of The Mona Lisa Suite Hotel, he indicated that he would love to contribute to such a worthy cause.   The Mona Lisa Suite Hotel co-hosted the event , at the beautiful Mona Lisa, on Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. 

In 1974, the first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia when McDonalds helped raise funds to purchase an old house, next to the hospital, so families could reside in comfort while their sick or injured child was having treatment.  Since that time, over 270 Ronald McDonald Houses have opened in 30 countries.  Families are able to stay together and enjoy home cooked meals and sleep in private bedrooms.  The gift cards & toys that are raised at the “Vino Ball of Celebration” are given directly to the families who are residing at The Ronald McDonald House while their child is in the hospital, so they do not have to worry about shopping during the holidays.