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Quick Facts:
Lebanon
The annual Charity Bash hosted by Mercy Health Foundation Lebanon on April 4, celebrated 20 years of supporting patient needs in and around Lebanon. This year’s event raised $150,000 which benefited facility enhancements at the Curry Cancer Center, which allows patients to receive crucial cancer treatment close to home.
The Mercy Health Foundation Lebanon hosted its first annual fundraising gala in April 2005. Dubbed Fantasy Gala, the event brought community leaders, patients and caregivers together and was such a success, the foundation decided to make the event an annual celebration.
Since that initial gala, the foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past 20 years and has been able to support a range of improvements that enhance patient care. Funds have helped purchase new equipment for Mercy’s labor and delivery unit and been used to provide cancer patients with wigs, cover transportation costs, prescription assistance and supplement shakes.
“Patients don’t think about health care until they need it the most,” said Taylor Howe, chair of the Mercy Health Foundation Lebanon board of directors. “When you receive a cancer diagnosis and have chemotherapy treatments, you need the comfort of care close to home.”
The Curry Cancer Center welcomed its first patients in 2008 and has provided cancer care close to home for patients around Lebanon. In 2024 alone, 737 patients received life-saving care at the cancer center. When the Curry family generously supported the opening of the cancer center, one primary goal was to ensure the facility was a true community resource. Patients can see their oncologist, receive chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments, get lab work done and much more. What sets the Curry Cancer Center apart is the fact that patients do not have to be seen by a Mercy provider to receive treatment.
“The Curry Cancer Center allows non-Mercy provider referrals to send orders to our location, so local community members do not have to travel to Springfield, Kansas City, St. Louis or Columbia to receive their infusion therapy,” said Jason Purcell, director of oncology at Mercy Hospital Lebanon.
Proceeds from this year’s charity bash will help cover the cost of facility enhancements at the cancer center aimed to improve patient comfort and expand parking to keep up with demand.
The event took place at the Wall Street Cattle Company on Highway KK in Lebanon, which also supplied the beef for the dinner. Musician Jason Whorlow returned to entertain guests with dueling pianos that performed everything from country classics to rock and roll.
This year’s live auction included a wide selection of items from a St. Louis Cardinals suite right behind homeplate to a KC Chiefs-themed children’s playhouse and French bakery themed playhouse designed and crafted by McCarthy, and the Hangtime 11.0 kayak donated by Jax Yaks.
“We were so excited to see everyone for this night of celebration and most importantly raising funds for cancer care,” said Simpson-Neasby. “The Curry Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital Lebanon ensures our community doesn’t have to travel to get life-saving treatments. We have them right here.”
