Night of a Thousand Stars Returns with Chairmen of the Board, Featuring Ken Knox
Put on your shagging shoes and dance the night away at Gaston Hospice’s
annual gala, Night of a Thousand Stars, on Saturday, May 6. With live
entertainment by Chairmen of the Board, featuring Ken Knox, the event
will bring the community together—under the stars—to honor
and remember those who have been touched by Gaston Hospice. The gala will
be held on all three levels of the City of Mount Holly Municipal Complex
with proceeds supporting Gaston Hospice.
“This event is a time to celebrate the good work Gaston Hospice has
done in our community for nearly 36 years and to honor the lives of those
who have been touched by Hospice,” said Louis Mitchell, Chairmen,
Gaston Hospice Board of Directors.
Part of the CaroMont Health system, Gaston Hospice provides end-of-life
care and counseling, palliative care and symptom management and respite
care for individuals and families facing a terminal illness. Hospice care
is provided in the hospital, at home, in a long-term facility, or at the
Robin Johnson House, a 15-bed inpatient facility located in Dallas, NC.
Night of a Thousand Stars is the inspiration of longtime musician Ron Ownbey
after he experienced the hospice process with his wife, Susan. Susan was
able to live out one of her last wishes, which was to make one last trip
to her favorite place in the mountains thanks to the extraordinary support
of Gaston Hospice. Ownbey, along with Susan’s best friend and former
Gastonia Mayor, Jennie Stultz, came up with the idea to create a signature
fundraising event as a way to support the work of Gaston Hospice.
“Gaston Hospice is a wonderful organization,” said Ownbey.
“They went above and beyond to help Susan even to the point of making
arrangements to send her hospice nurse with her when we went to the mountains.
Night of a Thousand Stars is one way to show the organization and their
staff how grateful I am for their incredible service in the community.”
Night of a Thousand Stars ran strong from 1999 to 2002 until the closure
of the event site at Loray Mill. After a 12-year hiatus, the event returned
with a bang in 2015. The event is named for the remembrance stars that
can be purchased for $25 in memory (gold) or in honor (silver) of a loved
one. The stars will line the ceiling of the Grand Hall as decoration during
the dance portion of the event.
“The stars are a nice and affordable way for people to support this
great organization that obviously does so much for patients and families,”
said Ownbey.
Gala guests will enjoy a cocktail reception beginning at 5:00 p.m. followed
by a seated dinner and live auction hosted by local weatherman personality,
Larry Sprinkle, at 6:30 p.m.
At 8:30 p.m., the lights go down and the stars go up for the main attraction
in the Grand Hall where gala and dance guests will enjoy dancing and entertainment
by Chairmen of the Board, featuring Ken Knox. Making headlines with their
famous song “Carolina Girls,” Chairmen of the Board is best
known for their beach music. The band recently completed a European tour
and is back in the Carolinas just in time to perform at Night of a Thousand Stars.
To learn more about the event and how to purchase dance tickets and stars, visit
http://www.gastonhospice.org/stars/.
Event Details:
When: Saturday, May 6
Where: City of Mount Holly Municipal Complex, 400 East Central Ave., Mt. Holly
Gala Ticket ($250 each) includes: reception, dinner, live auction and dance. Reception
begins at 5:00 p.m.
Dance Ticket ($40 each) includes: admission to the Night of a Thousand Stars dance
beginning at 8:30 p.m. Cash bar and a 50/50 raffle.
Remembrance Star ($25 each): Gold and silver stars decorate the evening with gold stars
for memory (of your loved one) and silver stars in honor (of your loved one).