ENID, Okla. — Nearly $80,000 was raised through the 2022 Enid Charity Ball to benefit Great Salt Plains Health, a federally qualified nonprofit facility that provides comprehensive care to people of all ages and income levels, with or without insurance.
Proceeds from the event were submitted to GSP last week and totaled $79,292.
The popular dance takes place in August and includes dinner, dancing and a live auction. The event began as a project of the Northwest Oklahoma Osteopathic Foundation, which continues to financially and administratively support the event. The main sponsors of the 2022 Charity Ball were Stride Bank and Jiffy Trip.
“This year, for the first time in our 25-year history, we named the Great Salt Plains as our beneficiary,” said Kristy Skidmore, event co-chair. “Their mission to provide quality comprehensive health care, regardless of a person’s ability to pay, is well known, and we particularly support the family medicine residency program they are establishing.”
Skidmore co-president Chelsea Bugg agreed, saying the importance of a residency program in terms of hiring doctors is crucial.
“A residency program is a way to get and keep quality doctors in the community. It’s a win-win for everyone,” she said.
Great Salt Plains Health began with a clinic in Cherokee, followed by additional clinics in Medford, Canton, and most recently Enid. GSP also has a mobile medical unit.
The Enid Clinic provides primary medical care and behavioral health services to Garfield County and the surrounding region and is currently expanding into dental services and building a new pediatric clinic. The center is also working with Oklahoma State University to create a family medicine residency program in Enid.
Tim Starkey, executive director of Great Salt Plains, said facility staff members are “extremely honored and appreciative” that the benefit dance committee believes in GSP’s mission and would support the facility with the funds.
“This is an example of the community working together for the good of all,” Starkey said in a news release. “We want to give a special ‘Thank you!’ to every individual who contributed to this year’s Charity Ball on behalf of our patients and staff.”
The Enid Charity Ball Committee for 2022 consisted of Co-Chairs Skidmore and Bugg, Auction Chair Ivy Epps, and Members Cindy Bickford, Taylor Blasier, April Davis, Todd Earl, Ryan Fossett, Kristi Fossett, Lindsey Fry, Brooke Jackson , Katie Liddell, Anita Luetkemeyer and Kegan Tuohy.
The 2023 event will take place at the Oakwood County Club on August 19. The event chairs will be Todd Earl and Ivy Epps, and Katie Liddell will be the auction chair. Kristin Patzkowsky Swink, Angela Williams and Missy Harmon will be incoming committee members.
For information on how to participate in the Enid Charity Ball, please contact Anita Luetkemeyer at anita.luetkemeyer@gmail.com or (580) 234-6071.
