VIVA Las Vegas
May 5th, 2012
Centre 200, Sydney

Saturday, May 5^th, at C200 in Sydney, more than 460 guests came together for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation`s Viva Las Vegas event, presented by Casino Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation and Cape Breton Beverages. The goal of this event was to raise $35,000 to purchase a new incubator for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Regional Hospital. This goal was far surpassed.

An amazing act of generosity from a group of local business owners helped the event raise more than $103,000. Steve Lewis Autobody, OTS, Cape Breton Beverages, S&M Trucking, Safe Way Auto Parts, Connors Basics, MacIntyre Chevrolet, Russell W. Hawkins, Ramsay’s Honda, Stuart MacLeod, The Breton Law Group, and an anonymous donor, came together and donated $57,500 in support of this cause.

“There was an extreme out pouring of support for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from these community minded business owners,” Says Shelly Kehoe, Co-Chair of the Viva Vas Vegas Planning Committee. “Because of their support, our event sponsors, and everyone else in the room that night, we more than tripled our fundraising goal, all in support of our tiniest Cape Bretoners.”

Each year at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, more than 300 premature or ill babies rely on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for specialized care.

For the event, guests were transported to an era in Vegas when Marilyn Munroe and The Rat Pack ruled, thanks to Robert MacLean and Celebrations Event Planning. Throughout the night, guests were dazzled and delighted by casino-style gaming, aerial performances by Atlantic Cirque, local dancers, a quintet jazz band, and cuisine from six local chefs.

“Viva Las Vegas is definitely one of the most entertaining nights in Sydney,” said Dwight Rudderham, Chair of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. “But most importantly, it is a night where the community comes together to raise funds to enhance healthcare in Cape Breton.”

At the event, a special tribute was given to outgoing Hospital Foundation CEO, Barbara Stead-Coyle.

“I am so very grateful and honoured by everyone’s kind words tonight,” says Barbara Stead-Coyle. “I will never forget how generous the Cape Breton community is and has been over the years. Tonight I watched an amazing act of generosity and caring unfold right in front of me. I watched a community come together to support an extremely important cause. It is Regional Hospital Foundation donors and supporters that make it possible for patients and their families to be home for healthcare.”

Big thank you to our 2012 sponsors:

 
Four of  a Kind Sponsors:
Johnson Insurance
Connors Basics
Lotherington’s Flowers and Gifts
M&M Meat Shops
Delta Sydney

Double Down Sponsor:
Polysteel Atlantic

Gaming Table Sponsors:
Cape Breton District Health Authority
CBI Health Group
Clearwater Seafoods
Crane Cove Seafoods
Infinitee Wellness
Premiere Van Lines
Trifos Designs
Bank of Montreal Nesbitt Burns

Big thanks to our Committee Members:
Shelly Kehoe, Chair
Brenda Tattrie, Co-Chair
Ron Crawley
Fletcher Hunston
Kellie Manning
Greg Matthews
Amber McLaine
Gina Ryan
Stephanie Singler