9th annual event, presented by PNC Bank, held at home of Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 8, 2023 – On Sat., April 1, the 9th Annual Levine Children’s Gala welcomed over 500 guests to Uptown Charlotte, raising a record $2.4 million to benefit Atrium Health Levine Children’s. The fundraiser was made possible by the generous support of the community – most notably, presenting sponsor PNC Bank. The crystal-adorned event commemorated the 15th anniversary of Levine Children’s Hospital, celebrating the community’s extraordinary role in continuing to build the hospital’s legacy.
Held for the second consecutive year at the home of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC, the gala was attended by national and local celebrities, athletes, philanthropists, community leaders and representatives of Atrium Health and Levine Children’s. Corporate supporters included PNC Bank, The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation, Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC, Hendrick Family Foundation, Truist, Rodgers Builders, Brighthouse Financial, Brasfield & Gorrie, Hendrick Motors of Charlotte, Mercedes-Benz of Northlake and Office Environments.
Four-time Emmy winner and WBTV anchor Molly Grantham and singers from Opera Carolina welcomed a sold-out crowd and recognized some of Levine Children’s biggest supporters, including PNC Bank, presenting sponsor of the gala since its inception in 2015.
“As a company that cares deeply for the communities we serve, we want every child to have the opportunity to thrive – and access to world-class healthcare is crucial to that growth,” said Weston Andress, PNC regional president for Western Carolinas, acknowledging PNC’s longstanding commitment to Levine Children’s. “This gala is all about helping take that care to the next level, and we are excited to have been part of this event since the beginning.”
Gene Woods, Advocate Health Chief Executive Officer, of which Atrium Health is a part, joined Grantham on stage to acknowledge the evening’s brightest stars – patients and physicians – and the stories of hope that are the foundation of Levine Children’s legacy. Guests watched the 15-year transformation of former patients via video, and also heard from special young guests in the audience who have received care at Levine Children’s.
Attendees heard, virtually, from children’s champions Greg Olsen and Magic Johnson. Gala committee member Emily Johnson took center stage to share her experience at Levine Children’s with her youngest child, Jones, born last year with Down syndrome.
Inspired by these moving stories of hope, gala attendees gave generously during the live and silent auction and the bid paddle raise, hitting record totals in each area.
The evening’s formal program concluded with thank-you messages from Dr. Stacy Nicholson, enterprise leader of Atrium Health Levine Children’s, and Callie Dobbins, senior vice president of the Children’s service line, who underscored the crucial role that philanthropy plays in supporting Levine Children’s Hospital. The audience demonstrated their gratitude with a standing ovation for Sandra and Leon Levine, lead benefactors. As guests prepared for the entertainment portion of the evening, they joined the GEP youth choir in singing, “Happy Birthday.”
The celebration continued with a lively performance by multi-platinum pop musician and producer Wyclef Jean of the acclaimed alternative hip hop group, the Fugees.
The Gala Committee included: Joclyn and John Balanda, Candy and Darren Bing, Stephanie and Howard Bissell, Janelle and Todd Collins, Monica and Armando Chardiet, Amy and Alfred Dawson, Mandy and Todd Houser, Emily and Tyler Johnson, Kara and Greg Olsen, Ana and Manuel Rey, Natalie and David Secrest, Tiffany and Scott Smith, Nazy and Durham Weeks, Amy and Martin Welton, and Joy and Hunter Widener.
About PNC Bank
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
About Atrium Health Levine Children’s
Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital is an award-winning hospital in Charlotte, NC, offering specialized pediatric medicine and 24-hour emergency care. Located on the main campus of Carolinas Medical Center, the 234-bed hospital is the most comprehensive facility of its type between Atlanta, Georgia and Washington D.C. Levine Children’s Hospital is also home to the Ricky Hendrick Centers for Intensive Care, which support pediatric intensive and cardiovascular surgery patients. Since opening in 2007, the hospital has grown to include more than 30 pediatric specialties and has consistently received national recognition from U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals.”