CULLMAN, Ala. – The Good Samaritan Health Clinic (GSHC) on Tuesday evening held its annual Caring for Cullman Concert in a new venue at Northbrook Baptist Church, featuring repeat headliner Triumphant Quartet and Christian comedian Mickey Bell. The turnout may have set a record.
GSHC Executive Director Jolanda Hutson told The Tribune, “We couldn’t be more excited about this evening’s event! If advanced ticket sales are any indication, this is definitely going to be our best event to date.
“We’re grateful for all of our sponsors, for everyone who helped promote the event, and we’re grateful for Cullman Savings Bank to be our platinum sponsor for the second year, and thankful for Northbrook Baptist Church for allowing us to have our event in this beautiful facility.
“We really appreciate all of the community’s support, because that’s why we’re able to have a successful event, and all of the proceeds going to help provide medical care to the people right here in our community that do not have health insurance and would, therefore, not be able to access healthcare services.”
Cullman Savings Bank President John Riley talked about his organization’s participation in the concert, “I got involved with the Good Samaritan clinic probably about 10 years ago, with their board, got to see from the inside the good work that they did. And when I rolled off the board, the Cullman Savings Bank Foundation kind of kicked in for funding and helped them along the way. Every year we like to sponsor them in one of their events; this is a big one for them.”
He continued, “I think the board of directors and the employees, the officers, we look at our marketing in a different way. We think making the community a stronger community is the way we do our marketing, so this is part of our marketing. The Good Samaritan Health Clinic, it’s a vital part of our community to help people who don’t have health insurance, and we see it as our responsibility to step in there where we can. The community’s been good to us, so we try to give back in that way. It’s good for everybody.”
The entertainers, in their own words
David Sutton, Triumphant Quartet’s high, clear-as-a-bell tenor, said, “You know what? We’ve been coming and doing this benefit concert for several years now; I can’t remember exactly how many years straight. Any time there’s a call such as this, naturally we are honored to be a part of it. This being Eric (Bennett)’s hometown makes it even, I think, that much more special to us, because he is a member of our group, of course. Any time we can go back to one of the guys’ hometowns and be a part of an event like this, it’s always a special time. We’re just thankful that they continue to bring Triumphant in every year to be a part of this really good cause.”
Bell, who was last year’s master of ceremonies, approached GSHC himself with an offer to return.
He told The Tribune, “Last year, Jolanda asked me to come to emcee the event, and after I did my research on the Good Samaritan Health Clinic and what they were doing here in Cullman, I made it a point to tell her that I wanted to be a part of it next year, as well.
“I don’t do any benefits, I don’t do a lot of fundraisers, but this is one that I will be sure that I do, because I believe in what they’re doing. I believe that, at a time that we are in our country and nation, I think this is something that everybody needs to look at. And I just appreciate what they do here in Cullman.”
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