An Evening with Friends 2024 was a spectacular night, heightened by stunning artwork, delicious food and drinks, and the best of company. To everyone’s great delight, An Evening with Friends surpassed it’s fundraising goal, earning more than $322,000 to benefit Mississippi’s youngest patients.
Friends of Children’s Hospital would like to thank a number of people for the success of An Evening with Friends. This year’s sponsors and host committee was larger and more generous than ever–thank you to our sponsors and hosts! Friends was delighted to host a remarkable art auction that featured classic, heirloom works. We couldn’t have done this without the generosity of our artists and local galleries. Friends would also like to thank our Board of Directors. They are always an involved, helpful group, but the work they did to support An Evening with Friends was notably appreciated. Lastly and most of all, we would like to thank Ann and Rick Calhoon for opening their home to Friends for this event. We could not have asked for more gracious, kind, and considerate hosts or a more beautiful space to hold this special event.
Guests arrived at the Calhoon’s home eager and early as the sun faded into a clear evening. Lanterns lit the magnolia trees above, and guests were greeted at the brick landing in front of the home. With a glass of champagne from the entryway, guests made their way into the breakfast room turned art exhibition. Tall green velvet drapes enclosed the space, creating the perfect backdrop for an awe-inspiring collection of art. Frames big and small covered the walls floor to ceiling. Cordoned to the left stood “Fury,” a ceramic sculpture by Rod Moorhead. To her side rested a gold-framed sketch by Walter Anderson, and a large William Dunlap piece hung above them both. Outside the French doors and onto the brick breezeway, larger pieces stood on easels. On the patio, guests enjoyed freshly baked flatbreads and drinks from the nearby bar as the Jackson All-Stars played jazz music from the balcony above them. In the yard, a sailing white cloth tent enclosed another lounge space where guests filled their plates with shrimp and grits, couscous, and stuffed mushrooms between glances at the televisions to check college football game scores.
It was a wonderful night to celebrate and spend time with donors and friends who help Friends of Children’s Hospital fulfill our mission year after year. We greatly anticipate next year’s event and cannot wait to share more details soon.
