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Supporters
at 15th
annual
Kidney
Ball
raise
over
$430,000
to help
over 1
million
Michiganders
with
kidney
disease
DETROIT
-
Celebrating
the
“grit
and
glamour”
of
Detroit’s
ongoing
renewal,
nearly
500 area
movers
and
shakers
enjoyed
the
National
Kidney
Foundation
of
Michigan’s
signature
fundraising
event,
the
Kidney
Ball.
Held on
Saturday,
December
7 at the
Detroit
Marriott
at the
Renaissance
Center,
“the
most fun
black
tie
event in
metro
Detroit”
raised
over
$430,000
through
a silent
auction,
donations,
and an
exciting
live
auction.
One
highlight
at the
15th
annual
Kidney
Ball was
learning
about
and
meeting
nine-year-old
Jaxson
Scott
and his
family.
A video
told
Jaxson’s
story
about
being
born
premature
and
losing
the use
of his
legs at
one-year-old.
Continuing
medical
issues
resulted
in
Jaxson’s
kidneys
failing
at age
8.
Fortunately,
his
mother,
Grace
Yount,
was a
match
and
Jaxson
received
a kidney
from his
mom in
August
2018. In
2019,
Jaxson’s
family
and
friends
formed
Team
Jaxson
to raise
money at
the
Kidney
Walk at
the
Detroit
Zoo.
After
the
video,
Steve
Garagiola
interviewed
Jaxson
and his
mom
onstage.
Another
highlight
was the
presentation
of the
2019
NKFM
Kidney
Crusader
Award to
retired
nephrologist
Paul
Smith,
MD, who
served
on the
NKFM’s
Scientific
Advisory
Board
for many
years.
This
award is
presented
to a
health
care
professional
who has
not only
practiced
in the
area of
kidney
disease
but also
advocated
for
patients
and
donated
time and
resources
to
support
NKFM
programs
and
services.
During
the
pre-dinner
cocktail
reception,
guests
perused
over 250
eclectic
silent
auction
items in
the
hallways,
including
the
popular
“kids
auction”
area
filled
with
toys and
treats.
Attendees
posed in
front of
a
colorful
graffiti-embellished
wall,
visited
the
photo
booth,
and
posted
on
social
media
using #KidneyBallDetroit.
Guests
also
sampled
wine,
beer and
spirits
at
several
tasting
stations
before
dinner.
WDIV-TV’s
Steve
Garagiola
hosted
the
program
again
this
year,
introducing
remarks
from the
Kidney
Ball
Committee
Co-Chairs:
John
Magee,
MD,
Professor
of
Surgery,
Section
Head of
Transplant
Surgery,
and
Director,
University
of
Michigan
Transplant
Center;
and
Duane
McLean,
Detroit
Tigers
Vice
President
of
Business
Operations.
Honorary
Chair
Scott
LaRiche,
Executive
Manager
and Vice
President,
Lou
LaRiche
Chevrolet,
also
welcomed
the
crowd.
This
year’s
live
auction
featured
sports
ticket
packages
for the
Detroit
Tigers,
the
Detroit
Red
Wings,
the U.S.
Tennis
Open,
the
Super
Bowl and
the
Final
Four.
After
dinner
and the
live
auction,
guests
indulged
at the
popular
candy
“bar”,
then
danced
until
1:00
a.m. to
Your
Generation
in
Concert,
pausing
only for
late
night
Coneys.
“Our
staff
and
volunteers
outdo
themselves
year
after
year to
make
this
event
more
magical.
Everyone
should
feel
proud
about
helping
to
support
the NKFM
programs
to
prevent
kidney
disease
and the
services
that
support
those
with
kidney
disease,”
states
NKFM CEO
Linda
Smith-Wheelock.
The
2019
Kidney
Ball was
sponsored
by
Meijer,
Adrian
Steel,
General
RV,
Morley,
Michigan
Medicine,
VTC
Insurance
Group,
Miller
Coors,
Greenfield
Health
Systems,
Fresenius
Medical
Care,
Northwest
Detroit
Dialysis,
Mars
Wrigley
Confectionery,
The
Skinny
Butcher,
and many
others.
For more
information
about
the
National
Kidney
Foundation
of
Michigan’s
programs
and
services
throughout
the
state,
please
visit
nkfm.org
or call
800-482-1455.
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