Fundraiser benefits St. Joseph Villa

Intermountain Catholic

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The annual Hope Benefit for CHRISTUS St. Joseph Villa offers a fun evening with a silent auction, dinner and a live auction to benefit the Charity Care Fund.

SALT LAKE CITY — Restricted by a limited income, seniors sometimes have to choose between paying rent or purchasing expensive prescription medication. At CHRISTUS St. Joseph Villa, residents don’t have to face that decision, thanks to the Charity Care Fund, which last year provided more than $998,000 in financial assistance.

Each year, to raise money for the Charity Care Fund, the Friends of St. Joseph Villa organize the Hope Benefit, a dinner that includes silent and live auctions.

The money is donated for "anyone at St. Joseph Villa who needs financial support," said Ginger Moulton, chief development officer for the villa. "For example, it could be a person in the apartment who can’t quite afford to pay for their rent and their food and their medication; sometimes that prescription is just so much."

Funds also could be made available for someone in long-term care who needs their glasses repaired, or a new set of dentures, or a new hearing aid that Medicaid won’t pay for, she said.

This year, the Right Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, will be presented with the Continuum of Caring Award, given to community members who have been involved with the community, the elderly and St. Joseph Villa specifically.

"Bishop Irish has been a long-time supporter of St. Joseph Villa," Moulton said. "She has supported the Charity Care Fund for many years and supported the Villa and other efforts as well. She’s also had members of the Episcopal diocese, including clergy, here, so she’s been involved in having people that she knew and worked with here, as well. Bishop Irish has also been very involved in our community through her family foundation, the O.C. Tanner Foundation, but she also personally gives, as well."

Bishop Irish also has been involved with a wide breath of organizations in fields as diverse as the arts, education and health care, Moulton said. "We just felt like she was a wonderful example of being involved and helping the community, helping St. Joseph Villa and making a difference for people."

This year, more than 400 people are expected to attend the event. "It’s just a fun evening and a way to support those people who may not be able to afford the cost of their care," Moulton said. "We all hope that none of us will ever be in that situation but it’s nice to have the charity care fund here if you ever do need it."

Auction baskets this year include everything from a football autographed by the University of Utah team to a United Kingdom-themed basket that includes shortbread, Devonshire cream and single malt Scotch whiskey.