"Hearts and Diamonds" Gala

February 24, 2011

The Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) Foundation will hold the annual Hearts and Diamonds Gala on Saturday, Feb. 5, 7:00 p.m. to midnight, at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.
“This year’s event is a salute to Dr. Sammie Dixon,” said Maranda Houston, director of the TRMC Foundation. “Dr. Dixon is now retired, but during his long career, he served as a practicing OB/GYN physician, a hospital authority board member, the TRMC Foundation’s chairman, and chief of two area managed care contracting organizations — all before becoming Tift Regional Medical Center’s first full-time medical director.”
In addition, Houston said, Dixon served on boards for the Tift County Board of Health, Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition. Houston said that without Dixon’s service and commitment over the years, Tifton would not have the reputation it enjoys today as a center of quality health care.
“Dr. Dixon also continues to be actively involved in the TRMC Foundation and provides an endowment each year to TRMC to recognize employees of the month and employee of the year,” said Houston.
All proceeds from this black-tie optional event benefit the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation’s “Heart Safe Community” program, which provides community organizations with automatic external defibrillators and area paramedics with 12-lead EKG units. The program also financially aids the families of TRMC cardiac rehabilitation patients with special needs.
“This has special meaning since Dr. Dixon is a heart patient himself — one who beat the odds,” said Houston. “In 1989, due to a consistent cardiovascular condition, Dr. Dixon became Emory University’s 40th heart transplant recipient.”
Dixon successfully fought the complications of many medicines as well as the rejection of a new heart. “It was not an easy road to recovery, but we are all thankful that he is still with us today,” said Houston.
Houston said this year’s gala will be “A Toast to Classic Hollywood.” Tickets are $125.00 per person, which includes fine foods, musical entertainment by the group “The Mighty Kicks,” dinner entertainment by Melanie Peavy, dancing, a silent auction and diamond giveaway.
For more information or to purchase a ticket, call the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation at 229-391-3310.