Barnyard Benefit Planned Break out your blue jeans—it’s a barnyard benefit! Dust off that cowboy hat and join the Monroe Health Foundation on Saturday, May 8, for a wonderful dinner and a night of bluegrass music featuring the band, “Fat Man’s Squeeze”! This energetic bluegrass band has accomplishments such as being named 95 KSJ Breakfast Club’s official band! They are often found entertaining up and down the Causeway and anywhere there is a crowd looking for fun. Their cds will be available that night for those who want to take “Fat Man’s Squeeze” home with them! While this band is well known for bluegrass sounds and gospel music, they know how to get a party going with favorite country hits and even some Lynard Skynard tunes! This is no formal affair, so come as you are to Jess Martin’s Barn in Beatrice but you do have to buy your tickets in advance! “We are looking forward to seeing you in your cowboy hats and blue jeans,” said barnyard benefit chairperson, Chris Jones. “If you don’t have your tickets, call me at 743-2012 or the Foundation office at 743-7391”. Mrs. Jones reminds everyone to reserve their tickets quickly because more than two hundred and fifty tickets have already been sold! Your $50 donation per person will include great music, fun, and a great meal! The dinner menu includes: David’s Catfish Famous Coleslaw, Scrumptious Cherry Street Barbecue, Homemade Potato Salad, Homemade Baked Beans, Rolls, and Beverages! A “prized pig” will be cooked to perfection and the meat will be “pulled” just for you by a farmer or two! The scrumptious pound cake bar is sure to satisfy every cowboy and cowgirl’s sweet tooth! Everyone attending will receive a “Souvenir Cup” to remind them of the great time they had at the barn and all ticket holders will be eligible for door prizes! Appetizers will be available during the silent auction, which will feature something for everyone! For those who wait until the last minute to shop—mother’s day gifts can be purchased for that special “mom” in your life! Cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted for silent auction purchases. “Individuals, merchants, and local industries have been so generous in donating to the silent auction,” said silent auction chairperson, Laurie Bullard. “We have some excellent items sure to please everyone’s taste!” These are just a few of the wonderful items we have had donated to the silent auction: · $300 photography package from Jane Tucker, · YMCA Family Membership for one year · 4 night stay at Gulf Shores Plantation ($750 value) · $100 gift certificate to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse · 4 person air boat ride through the Mobile Delta ($100 value) · Three hour DJ party · 2 spots for a Beatrice Dove Hunt · Hand painted beverage bucket, pitcher, and glasses from Who Dunn It? · Cheerleader parties from Monroe County High School and Monroe Academy The silent auction items will also feature themed baskets full of gift certificates and items from merchants. The themes include: · “Call me down on the farm” · “Let’s have some fancy fast food” · “Taking care of my farmyard friends” · “Going to town on Saturday” · “Hey Sports Fans!” · “Honey-Dew List” · “I need to clean the place up a little bit!” · “It’s just an old fixer-upper!” · “I’m going to be one of them enterpuners!” · “I’m taking mama out to a fancy place” · “Have you seen “Deliverance”? · “Grocery Shopping at the Hoogly Woogly” · “Mama, he even bought me store bought flowers!” · “I need to make myself a little more presentable” “We really appreciate Tiki Baskets and Bows for their help in packaging the silent auction items in gift baskets for us,” said Bullard. The Mockingbird Girls are also lending a hand on this festive night. They will be on hand to selling commemorative T-shirts featuring this unforgettable night. The back of the t-shirts will feature logos from our corporate sponsors! The generous corporate sponsors include Alabama Power Company, Billy Barnes Enterprises, John B. and Rebecca Barnett Charitable Trust, Crowne Investments, ExecuFlight, Feaster Oil, Frontier, Gericare, Hornady Trucklines, Monroe County Bank/BankTrust, Omni Agency, People’s Exchange Bank, Prouty Real Estate, The Medicine Shoppe, The Orthopedic Group, PC., Village Pharmacy, and Vanity Fair Intimates. Alabama River Pulp is the lead corporate sponsor of this event, having donated $1500 to the event. Corporate chairperson Judi Burns raised close to $11,500 from corporate sponsors! “These companies have been so generous to help out such a great cause,” said Burns. “Their company’s names will be featured on a plaque at the hospital.” Proceeds from the Barnyard Benefit will help renovate Monroe County Hospital’s outpatient clinic. The hospital’s outpatient clinic is host to ten doctors from the Mobile area. This makes it a little easier for local community members to see a specialist without traveling out of town. These physicians are urologists, neurologists, ear, nose, & throat specialists, etc! “The outpatient clinic physicians have been so kind to help us with the benefit,” said Pattie Welch, Foundation Director. “They have donated some great items to the silent auction and some are even clearing their schedules so they can be there for the benefit!” The best part of the night is that this great cause is dedicated to the memory of a great physician. The outpatient clinic renovations will be made in memory of beloved physician and Monroe Health Foundation Charter Board Member, Dr. Tim Jones. “Since the inception of the Monroe Health Foundation, Dr. Jones never missed a fundraiser,” said Welch. “We are commending his dedication to supporting events that benefit our community and this is just a small way we can show that he will always be remembered.”