On a night defined by gratitude and historic generosity, the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation hosted the #18 Celebration of Caring Gala for its eighteenth year at Lucas Oil Stadium. This signature event is set to retire this year after being hosted and led by NFL legend Peyton Manning for nearly two-decades. Manning remains dedicated to Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital (PMCH), the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation and making a difference in new ways in the future.
The event raised over $4.2 million for PMCH, including a special $1.8 million matching donation made by Peyton’s friend, Aneel Bhusri, during the event in honor of the eighteenth year. Since the first Gala in 2008, this signature Indianapolis event has raised nearly $24 million for PMCH. These funds have been the catalyst for important programs and expansions, including the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, technology for the state’s largest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the recent completion of the Care for Tomorrow Campaign and more.
“When we started this 18 years ago, our goal was to ensure that no Indiana family ever had to leave the state to get world-class care for their child," said Peyton Manning. "Eighteen is a number that means a lot to me, but what it represents tonight is 18 years of this community showing up for these kids. While this is our final Gala, the team at St. Vincent is just getting started and my support and involvement will continue."
This year, the Celebration of Caring Gala supports a critical next step in pediatric care: the development of a dedicated Outpatient Pediatric Dialysis Unit which fills a significant gap for children with end-stage renal disease.
"Peyton Manning’s commitment to our Mission has been unparalleled," said Ann Haupt, Vice President of the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation. "Through 18 years of this Gala, he has been more than a namesake; he has been a teammate. This final celebration is a tribute to the legacy he has built into the very walls of Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and in the lives of every child who walks through our doors."
For more information on the event or to learn how to support the mission of the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, please visit give.stvincent.org/pmchgala.
