All heart

Lollipalozza was a new hit, and the music made "headlines" again as Blount Memorial Foundation supporters gathered for the 9th annual Valentine Gala at homes around Blount and Knox County and at the Airport Hilton.

What’s that all about? Well, the Headliners from Hilton Head, S.C., once again entertained with their popular renditions of hits for dancing at the Hilton. Lollipalozza was an opportunity to donate to the Good Samaritan Clinic and win some pretty neat prizes.

Lollipalozza took the form of topiary trees made of white and milk chocolate heart-shaped lollipops, done by Jennifer Qualls of The Chocolate Mousse. Guests could purchase the candy with a donation to the Good Samaritan Clinic. If the lollipop pulled from the Lollipalozza tree had a red tip, the recipient got to choose a package. Prizes in the packages ranged from backpacks to a flat screen television. The sweetest prize, however, was the donation to the clinic, the hospital’s facility to provide medical care to the underserved and uninsured.

Before the crowd arrived at the Hilton, ticket holders were guests at area homes for a formal cocktail buffet dinner, planned and catered by the executive chef Bobbie Aplin. Dinner included mini Chicken Cordon Bleu, crab cakes, chilled spiced shrimp, fruit, sausage-stuffed mushroom caps, vegetable crudités with blue cheese and red pepper dip, roasted pork and other tasty treats.

The Blount Memorial Foundation was established in 1969 with the mission of providing a way to make charitable donations to the hospital that could be used to enhance care and services for the medically underserved and uninsured. The Valentine Gala is one of several fund raisers the foundation sponsors during the year.

Not to be out-done by the main course, desserts at the Hilton were also delicious, featuring a good mix of chocolate treats, cakes and pies.

A silent auction kept bidders guarding their hearts’ desires until the bidding stopped and winners could claim their treasures.
And on the dance floor, the Headliners had women in ball gowns and men in tuxs gliding across the floor one minute and line-dancing the next!

The 2007 Gala Planning Committee included: Karen and Jim Stiles, chairs; Trudy Hughes, Leslie Rader, Amanda and Kevin Painter, Chris Reynolds, Sherry Hillis, Kay Overbey, Kristi Burkhalter, John and Linda Hageman, John Hinkle, Trula Jones, Lindsay Mizell and Jane Andrews.