The funds will go toward further enhancements at the hospital’s heart and vascular center, which can now treat patients actively having a heart attack.
On Dec. 1, the holiday season kicked off in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World with the 18th annual Lights of Love celebration, organized by the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation.
Complete with live music and pictures with Santa Claus, the event attracts families into Historic Downtown every year — and raises money for a hearty cause.
The South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation has announced that this year’s event raised $31,000. In addition to selling lights in honor of a loved one, the foundation was able to raise money through photos with Santa, glow stick sales and concessions at Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen. Out of the $31,000, a total of $1,500 was raised the night of the event.
“We get a lot of community support,” Jana Butler, executive director of the foundation, said. “We couldn’t do it without the City of Plant City. It’s a great partnership. We really appreciate the support of Plant City. This keeps us up to date in our medical treatments.”
Prior to the event, the foundation sends out mail pieces to 10,000 homes in Plant City highlighting the fundraiser. Donations range anywhere from $25 to $5,000. Butler estimates that the event had about 500 guests this year.
Butler works with South Florida Baptist Hospital President Karen Kerr to determine the hospital’s needs. Last year, funds from Lights of Love were used to increase the number of beds in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
This year, the foundation is putting the funds toward enhanced heart and vascular services, which have recently expanded at the hospital.
A second suite is now being used to treat patients suffering from cardiac arrest through STEMI services, an enhancement the hospital didn’t have before. The launch of the STEMI program treats heart attacks caused by a prolonged blockage of a heart’s blood supply. Treatment includes a percutaneous coronary intervention, known as a PCI, which must be done within 90 minutes of a patient receiving emergency care.
Prior to the hospital’s lab enhancements and addition of a second suite, patients who were admitted to the hospital that were suffering from cardiac arrest had to be transferred to a location where they could be treated.
“Our cath lab (catheterization laboratory) can now take care of patients that are actively having a heart attack,” Butler said. “Patients can be treated here and won’t have to be transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.”
“Patients would be given a stent and flown to St. Joe’s Hospital,” Beth Tancredo, the hospital’s director of operations, said. “Now, if the paramedics determine that a patient is having a heart attack, they can be brought here.”
“Our whole goal is to have advanced health care in Plant City,” Butler said.
Further funds raised from the Lights of Love event will go toward the hospital’s Wellness on Wheels and Ladies’ Night Out programs.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
