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HSHS St. Anthony’s Foundation invites the community to the annual “Butterfly Ball” on Friday, April 28, co-sponsored by Central Illinois Radiological Associates, Ltd.  This “dress to impress” fundraising event will be held at the Keller Convention Center, starting with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., followed by 6:30 p.m. dinner, program and live auction, and concluding with Master Magician Christopher Bontjes at 8:30 p.m. with dancing to follow.  The cost is $65 for individual tickets or $120 per couple.  Reservations for tables of 8 or 10 are available. All proceeds from the Butterfly Ball benefit HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois.

Shawna O’Dell, Director of HSHS Home Care and Hospice Southern Illinois, explained why the butterfly is the perfect symbol for the programs that the event is supporting.  “The butterfly represents the transformation of the spirit, the course of our life cycle, and our souls becoming free to take flight.” she said. “HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois is a unique ministry that not only offers supportive, compassionate care that can bring peace, comfort and dignity to a patient in their last days of life, but to their families as well.”

As part of the evening’s festivities, St. Anthony Grade School students will have a display of butterflies at the Butterfly Ball. Kelly Sager, St. Anthony’s Chief Nursing Officer, and her husband Matt donated butterfly larvae to the eighth grade students and their first grade buddies at St. Anthony Grade School, and the students are raising the butterflies for the event. The students will be giving those at the event an opportunity to “purchase” butterflies in memory of a loved one’s passing. This opportunity to “purchase” a butterfly is open to all in the community. Butterflies will be available for a $25 donation.  Those who “purchase” a butterfly will be invited to participate in a Butterfly Release event at a later date to be held in the Healing Garden at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, where they will be given their butterfly to release as they are set free to take flight.

To purchase a ticket or make reservations for HSHS St. Anthony’s Foundation’s Butterfly Ball, or to “purchase” a butterfly in honor of a birth or in memory of a loved one’s passing, contact Michael Wall, Director of Philanthropy, at 217-347-1854, or email michael.wall@hshs.org.  For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Foundation, visit St. Anthony’s web site at stanthonyshospital.org.  HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is part of the Southern Illinois Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, which also includes HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, HSHS Holy Family in Greenville, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland