Guests were buzzing with excitement and joy throughout the night and into the following week after three years of not seeing one another, one guest even exclaimed to Kristen, “wonderful, exactly what I needed!” When we asked what went well during the event, Kristen mentioned the audience engagement and shared that HealthPoint staff was strategically placed throughout the presentation, making HealthPoint the celebrity in the room this year, whether that was team member, Magda Herrera de Leon presenting with emcee Martha Enson (Enjoy Productions) or the HealthPoint staff choir. For Kristen, it was to “show how amazing we were rather than telling them how we are amazing. The choir does that, it shows staff, it shows Dr. Wu, it shows that we are real people making HealthPoint what it is.”
Dr. Lillian Wu, a doctor at HealthPoint, was a focal point in the music that night as she played with her quartet, show band Boogie Boulevard, and the HealthPoint staff choir as a pianist. Looking back on the event, Dr. Wu mentioned, “… this one was definitely an event to remember, with so many fun entertainment acts, food stations, and ample opportunity for folks to roam and see people in real life, dressed up and enjoying themselves. It was so refreshing to experience a fundraising event so different than the usual sit-down dinner!” The highlight of her evening though was “accompanying the choir, who performed "Rise Up" so passionately and beautifully and seeing the crowd appreciate them so much. They committed themselves to three rehearsals after hours, and who knows how much more time at home learning their respective parts in the song. Their work was evident in how well they sang on stage, bringing tears to many eyes.”
HealthPoint board member, Megan Wildenradt also reminisced on the evening, “Kaleidoscope was truly a one-of-a-kind fundraiser that prioritized FUN. After so much time apart, it felt like the right approach. The incredible work of HealthPoint deserves to be celebrated and admired and Kaleidoscope did just that. “
But what was Kristen’s favorite part of Kaleidoscope? For her, it was HealthPoint President and CEO, Lisa Yohalem’s remarks and how engaged the CEO was with the audience throughout the presentation. “It created an energy exchange and made the audience part of the show, “Kristen recounted.
A big shout out to our Partner of the Year, Salal Credit Union! With their roots in healthcare, we are extremely grateful for their generous donation and support in the work that we do for the community. We asked Kristen how Salal was chosen to be this year’s partner, she stated, “Our committee chose Salal Credit Union because of their commitment to healthcare and their investment in helping to get the Community Connection fund started. They have been long-term partners of HealthPoint that make it a priority to invest in our staff with scholarships.”