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SIDS Institute’s gala going back to roots
Published February 1, 2009
LAKE JACKSON — Going back to its roots, the Southwest SIDS Research Institute is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a Masquerade Gala.
The gala, which will mirror the first gala put on by the institute a quarter-century ago, will be an evening of cocktails, dinner and dancing, educator and volunteer coordinator Mario Guel said.
“People can dress up in all sorts of silly costumes if they want to, or they can just go as they normally do in a black tie-type of event,” said Judy Henslee, the institute’s executive director. “We had a blast early on. People would come as gorillas, as cardiorespiratory monitors, as babies … it was just really a lot of fun.”
The gala, which will take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Lake Jackson Civic Center, will include the Pee Wee Bowen Band, a silent auction and a raffle.
In previous years, the gala has featured a live auction, but in light of the recent economic times, this year’s gala will be more of a thanks to the community for its support and include a raffle instead, Guel said.
“Also because of that, we’re selling tickets at the price we did for the first gala,” he said.
Tickets for the gala are $50 per person, $100 per couple or $500 for a table of 10, Guel said.
“The funds that we raise are used for our various outreach programs,” Guel said.
The institute’s services include educational and counseling classes about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, as well as informational material for families who want to know more about SIDS, Henslee said.
The institute also sends its employees to day-care facilities across the county to teach people about SIDS, and it recently started a program to provide cribs to families who can’t afford one.
“A new program we started this year is the ACCESS program, and it stands for All Children Can Enjoy Safe Sleep,” Guel said. “What that program provides is free cribs for parents who cannot afford a crib for their baby.”
The ACCESS program is just getting off the ground, Guel said, and should be up and running soon.
Gala tickets can be purchased at the Southwest SIDS Research Institute in Room 220 of Brazosport Regional Health System, 100 Medical Drive in Lake Jackson. For information, call the institute at (979) 299-2814.
Erin McKeon is a reporter for The Facts. Contact her at (979) 237-0152.
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