CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Bosom Buddies Foundation on Tuesday evening hosted its 2nd Annual Little Pink Dress Party at Loft 212. The doors opened at 5:30 p.m., at which time the guests began to fill the venue.
Dinner, courtesy of Custom Catering, was served by local members of law enforcement and the community, who collected tips in pink gartered armbands on behalf of the Bosom Buddies Foundation. Live and silent auctions were also scheduled.
President of Bosom Buddies Lori McGrath spoke with The Tribune on the history of the event and the Foundation, saying, “This should be the 4th Annual, but we did not get to hold the last two years because of COVID. It is a fundraiser. What Bosom Buddies is about is that we help local people in our county and in what we call ‘practical aspects’ of getting healthcare.”
She continued, “For example, a patient might find out they have cancer—and we treat men and women—they are told they have cancer and have to start treatments. So, what happens a lot of times is that the other spouse or a friend has to kind of stop their job and you stop yours because you are getting treatments. They need help with gas and groceries. We have a lady at the hospital, Jessica Nicholson, and Jessica helps screen with the hospital, so they have to fill out paperwork for need, so we do not just hand out money. In fact, we never just hand out money. We help pay their bills.”
McGrath further explained that those who might benefit from the Foundation often meet with Jessica, and the amount of assistance they receive is based on need. The meetings take place by phone, virtually, or face-to-face, and patients are walked through their evaluation. Afterwards, the results of the evaluation are given to the hospital’s financial aid team, who are trained to review cases and communicate the amount of funding and assistance for which the patient qualifies.
“It establishes them with the hospital and Jessica works her magic from there,” shared McGrath. “They walk out the door not feeling so lonely and so disconnected.”
Bosom Buddies member Jennifer Limerick shared, “I joined Bosom Buddies three years ago. I had breast cancer, so I was affected by it, and they helped. They came to visit me. So, I was like, ‘When I get better, I want to help. I want to give back. I want to do something.’ I love doing stuff like this. This is so fun.”
She continued, “Our team who volunteers, we go around to businesses and ask them for donations, or if they want to do a gift bag or donate their services. Some of them are massage, so they will do a massage. Or a car wash–we had a car detailing place give us three different certificates. It is incredible and everything is donated, so whatever we make off of this goes to Bosom Buddies, and I don’t know if people really know but every single dime goes to helping patients in Cullman County.”
Vice President of Bosom Buddies Judy Grissom shared, “We have helped with almost $130,000 since 2013 and the number of people, because we follow them through their treatment program, we have helped over 100 people. I do not have the exact number, but it is well over 100.”
Guest emcee was Christina Chambers and is a Cullman native, and an award-winning sports journalist in Birmingham. She is also a broadcast journalism teacher at Thompson High School with Alabaster City Schools. Chambers has more than 12 years of experience covering sports and news in the southeast and has won several AP Awards and an ABBY award for her storytelling with WBRC Fox 6.
Chambers took to the stage to provide introductions for the volunteer waiters, which included: Chief Kenny Culpepper, CPD Officer Craig Montgomery, CPD Officer Adam Clark, CPD Captain Jason Mickle, CPD Captain Jeff Warnke, CCC Chair Jeff Clemmons, CCC Kerry Watson, CCC Gary Marchman, VP of Development for Drinkard Developments Jason Grimmet, Judge Greg Nicholas, Judge Chad Floyd, Attorney Champ Crocker, State Representative Cory Harbison, Bradley Williams, Lieutenant Neville Franks, Firefighter Cory Thompson, Josh Speakman, Johnathan Limerick, Mayor Bennie Guthrie, Dr. Michael Garcia, CCSO Captain Ed Potter, CCSO Lieutenant Rod Cook, CCSO Captain Ricky Blackwood, CCSO Sheriff Matt Gentry and CCSO Deputy Jason Webber.
Chambers then introduced the entertainment of the evening, which was provided by stand-up comedian Nick Canaday. Canaday is the host of the @movieruiners podcast, which is available on all streaming platforms, and performs across the southeast. He has appeared on the Rick and Bubba Show 20+ times, was Nick at Night on WZZK and had a regular segment on Sports Czars.
Bosom Buddies Little Pink Dress Party ended in success, with the Foundation proudly thanking their sponsors for their many contributions, and their guests for a fun and generous evening.
Platinum sponsors – Bill Smith Buick GMC, Clearview Cancer Institute, Cullman Power Board, Drinkard Development Inc., David and Judy Grissom, R.E. Garrison Trucking
Gold Sponsors – PhRMA, Cullman Regional Medical Center, Traditions Bank
Silver Sponsors – Mitch Smith Chevrolet
Bronze Sponsors – Cullman Lions Club, Cullman Electric Cooperative, Cullman-Jefferson Gas, Dallice Attaway-State Farm Insurance Agency, Merchants Bank
All complimentary photos by Lisa Jones Photography will be available for download within a few weeks at https://www.ljonesphotography.com/proofing/little-pink-dress-21.
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