Nearly 100 years ago, Pierre S. du Pont opened the doors of his Longwood Gardens conservatory, a mind-bogglingly magnificent public greenhouse where he and his wife Alice hosted countless events.
Though he lived in an enchanted oasis, Pierre S. du Pont was far from ignorant to the ails of his day. When his friend and chauffeur Lewes Mason fell ill during the 1918 influenza outbreak, du Pont took note of the exceptional care Mason received from Chester County Hospital physicians. It was then that du Pont donated the funds needed to expand and modernize the hospital, moving it down the street to its present location. Not one to shy away from grandeur, he asked that the new building be modeled after the Palazzo Pitti in Florence Italy. To this day a massive golden-hued seal in Mason’s honor greets visitors and patients in the heart of what was the original hospital building.
How beautiful then that du Pont’s spirit of philanthropy and splendor lives on in the annual Chester County Hospital Gala at Longwood Gardens, which this year honors the hospital’s 125th anniversary.
The Chester County Hospital Gala takes place on Saturday, April 8. A pre-party at Galer Estate Vineyard & Winery kicks off the evening at 5:45 p.m., with the Gala at Longwood following at 7 p.m. Shuttle service between Longwood Gardens and Galer Estate will be provided.
Silver Candles
In 1892 the Chester County Medical Society and area citizens together proclaimed, “It is the duty of Chester County to care for her own.” It was with this proclamation that Chester County Hospital was born and has since brought comfort and aid to the community for 125 years.
Gala guests are invited to don silver in a nod to this 25th (plus a century) milestone and to blow out the birthday candles that will adorn the desserts. There will be numerous events recognizing the hospital’s legacy throughout 2017, but the Gala at Longwood is the signature moment to honor this vital institution.
The proceeds from the Gala will support renovations and expansions of critical hospital centers including the NICU, Abramson Cancer Center, Emergency Department, Operating Platform and additional patient rooms. Gala goers will get a sneak peak at architectural renderings of the future layouts and augmentations from Pinnacle sponsors architecture firm Ballinger and construction manager L. F. Driscoll.
As 2017 unfolds, Chester County Hospital will be honoring the many visionaries, role models, heroes and champions who have contributed to its mission and work, both past and present. The Gala will be a special opportunity for the hospital to pay tribute to four individuals whose impact on the hospital community has been invaluable. Pierre S. du Pont will be honored for his generosity, fittingly, within the conservatory he constructed for just such events. H. L. Perry Pepper, former hospital president and CEO, will be honored for his leadership in a tenure that spanned over 30 years. Ginny Kettenring, Chester County Hospital’s longest-serving in-house volunteer, and Robert L. Parsons, D.O., a dedicated primary care physician who retired in 2016, will also be recognized and celebrated at the Gala.
Pre-Party
Guests are invited to convene at Galer Estate Vineyard & Winery for a pre-party presented by Axis Construction Management. A shuttle will whisk gala goers to and from Longwood Gardens to the nearby winery to kick off the merriment with a tasting of Chester County treasures. Arianna’s Gourmet Cafe will provide guests with exquisite hors d’oeuvres paired with Galer Estate wines. There will be live music in this rustic, refined setting, a festive start to an enchanting evening.
Dinner + Dancing in Paradise
Millions of people have reveled in the botanical glory of Longwood Gardens, but to dance and dine in this self-described “perpetual Eden” is an experience known to very few.
A cocktail hour presented by West Chester Anesthesia Associates will be followed by dinner on the Fern Floor. Guests will enjoy a menu inspired by the year of the hospital’s inception, 1892, and a dessert with birthday candles for the hospital’s 125th year, all presented by the culinary staff at Longwood Gardens.
After dinner, guests will move to the historic ballroom for dancing and live music by the Jim Levendis Orchestra, all the while surrounded by ornate decor and steps from breathtaking fountains and horticultural design.
A Rare Opportunity
To be a part of this black-tie optional affair, contact Maggie McIntosh by phone at (610) 431-5313 or email at [email protected]. Tickets begin at $250. More information can be found on Chester County Hospital’s website.
It will be a night to remember for years to come and a simply beautiful way to honor and support Chester County Hospital and the community it serves.
Thank you to the 2017 sponsors who make the Chester County Hospital Gala possible (list as of March 27, 2017):
Pinnacle Sponsors
- Ballinger
- LF Driscoll Company LLC
- Premier Orthopedics
Legacy Sponsors
- Communication Test Designs, Inc. (CTDI)
- Medical Staff of Chester County Hospital
Pre-Party Sponsor
- Axis Construction Management, LLC
Cocktails Sponsor
- West Chester Anesthesia Associates
Benefactor Sponsors
- Duie Pyle, Inc.
- Akerley Technologies
- AKF Group LLC
- Anchor Health Properties
- Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Breiner
- Chester County Medical Society
- Emergency Care Specialists, Inc.
- Manito Abstract Company Inc.
- Phillips Mushroom Farms L.P.
- Stantec Architecture and Engineering
- William H. Clinger Corp.
Patron Sponsors
- Burns Mechanical
- Crothall Healthcare
- Intech Construction
- Krapf Coaches
- Mrs. Mary Warden
This post was brought to you by Chester County Hospital, which is part of Penn Medicine. Celebrating 125 years of service this year, Chester County’s oldest hospital has a long history of being dedicated to the health and well-being of our community.
- Photos: Allison Benford Barto
