2023 gala queen contestants who together raised more than $35,000 for Our Hospice, are, from left, Jennings County High School students Alivia Lockhard, Taylor Easton, Stella Millspaugh, Sophia Curry, Hannah Shepherd, Breanne Galyen, Makenzey Carr, Anna Hyden and Madison Brooks.
NORTH VERNON — The Jennings County Gala in support of Our Hospice raised a record sum Thursday in its return to a live event for the first time since the pandemic, organizers said.
“It was wonderful to be back together, live and in-person for the 25th Annual Our Hospice Jennings County Gala,” said Julie Davis, event and volunteer services manager for Our Hospice. “And we are thankful to the community for their tremendous support as we netted a record $70,800.”
Stella Millspaugh was crowned 2023 Gala Queen on Thursday at the Jennings County Gala in North Vernon that raised a record $70,800 for Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.
In the highlight of the night’s event, Stella Millspaugh was crowned 2023 Gala Queen, raising $12,375. Sophia Curry was named first runner-up. Together, the queen contestants raised $35,225 to bring support and care to the patients and families served by the Jennings County Our Hospice team.
The other contestants were Madison Brooks, Makenzey Carr, Taylor Easton, Breanne Galyen, Anna Hyden, Alivia Lockhard and Hannah Shepherd.
“This was my first Gala,” said Our Hospice President Steph Cain. “I had been told what a special event it was, and I’m so impressed by these nine young ladies who raised over $35,000 this year. The support of the Jennings County community to help us fulfill our mission is impressive and what a fun night to celebrate how we can be better together!”
The gala also recognized queens from the past 24 years, who together have combined to raise more than $440,000 for the patients and families served by Our Hospice’s Jennings County care teams. Past queens who attended the gala included first-ever queen Nicole Capes-Carter (1999), Elizabeth Vogel (2015), Adrianna Gasper (2016), Eliza Gasper-Harker (2017), Alexa Boyd (2020), Kylee Boardman (2021) and Jena Morgan (2022).
Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is a nonprofit that relies on community support to serve patients and families in Bartholomew, Brown, Jennings, Jackson, Johnson and other 11 other counties in southern Indiana from offices in Columbus, North Vernon and Greensburg. More information is available crh.org/service-centers/hospice.
The event also included silent and live auctions led by Auctioneer Tom Lawson. Gene Rudicel hosted the almost-capacity event at The Barn at Willow Lake, where DJ Jeff Downs provided music. Our Hospice thanked the coummunity, staff and supporters, including gala event sponsor Arvin Sango, Inc.; title sponsor, Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc.; and sponsors Edward Jones Jacque Greathouse & Patrick H. Baltus, Financial Advisors; ETC Systems, Inc.; JCBank; Scott A. Terry, DDS; North Vernon Abstract Co.; Patriot Packaging; and Southern Indiana Mold Corp.
