The Next Generation raised more than $54,000 with its first Summer Soirée. The funds are earmarked to launch a three-year effort to purchase a $275,000 neonatal intensive care ambulance for The Children’s Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center. The inaugural fundraising gala was held July 18 and served as the official kick-off for The Next Generation’s Angel Wings campaign.

“We are so proud to have hosted this event and want to thank our all of our donors, friends, and supporters for giving to the Angel Wings campaign and making this first event such a success,” said Kimberly Pannell, president of The Next Generation. “Surpassing our goal is an exciting start to our campaign and although we have a long way to go, I know we will soon be delivering a brand new neonatal intensive care ambulance to The Children’s Hospital.”

Plans call for the Summer Soirée to become an annual event for The Next Generation, and each year it will single out a patient family for special recognition. “Each year we plan to honor a family that has utilized transport services to The Children’s Hospital. This year we recognized Kayla and Jerrod Ball, whose daughter Ella Kate was born prematurely and transported to Savannah from Baxley, Georgia. We chose this family because they know and understand how important being transported to a hospital can be for a fragile premature baby.”

As the only level 3 neonatal intensive care nursery in the region, The Children’s Hospital treats premature infants and other seriously ill newborns from throughout southeast Georgia and neighboring South Carolina counties.

The Next Generation expressed appreciation to the event’s premier sponsor, Ameris Bank, and also recognized sponsors Belfore Restoration, MacAljon, and SleepWell for their support.