Eight years ago, we had an idea that the Episcopal Retirement Homes community could come together with leaders of the local community to host an event that would help see the ERH mission to “enrich the lives of older adults in a person-centered, innovative, and spiritually based way” brought out into the Greater Cincinnati community.

And so the ERH Gala was born.

Every year, a committee of residents, ERH volunteers, and local sponsors come together to host a themed event to benefit our Good Samaritan Mission which funds all of our charitable work in the Episcopal Retirement Homes communities and throughout southern Ohio.

Every year, the Good Samaritan Mission spends over $2 million dollars to make sure that our resident financial aid fund is never depleted, that Parish Health Ministry can continue its partnerships with local churches, that Meals on Wheels can continue its operations from Deupree House, that our vision of affordable senior living in Cincinnati stays a reality, and that our staff and residents who need care and assistance always have a resource available.

This year, our Gala took its cues from the iconic Vincent van Gogh sunflower painting which hangs at the National Gallery in London.

In the months leading up to the Gala, residents at both Marjorie P Lee and Deupree House put their artistic talents to work creating their own unique interpretations of the piece. From oil on canvas, to reverse glass etching to enamel tile—each work was exceptional in its execution.

Deupree House resident watercolorist Nancy Holterhoff painted an exquisite copy of the original masterpiece which we featured on the front of our invitations. Artist Pat Donaldson, also from Deupree, executed a beautiful acrylic on slate.

Over 25 masterpieces were created in all, and each table at the Gala featured a small work that was painted by a resident and taken home by one lucky guest at the end of the night.

Though dinner and dancing to the big band were a hit, as always, the silent auction was probably the highlight of the evening.

The amazing art work and painstakingly crafted treasures donated by residents of ERH communities and some of our guests were certainly sights to be seen.

The reproductions painted by Nancy Holterhoff and Pat Donaldson were both donated to the auction was not the only artowork represented at the Gala. Our guests were also in the giving mood, donating their own works of art   including a piece that displayed one of our famous local landmarks, the Roebling Bridge, which made an appearance in a giclée.

Another guest, a faithful attendee of the ERH Gala, contributed a lovely sketch to be sold as he does every year. An accomplished ERH quilter worked tirelessly to complete a batik quilt in time for the Gala. A resident photographer offered an image he had captured of the Marjorie P. Lee Fountain of Faith.

Last year, our Masquerade raised over $112,000 for the Mission.

The numbers aren’t in for this September’s Gala, but our volunteer committee put together a wonderful evening of dinner, drinks, and dancing at the Hyde Park Country Club, but we expect to match or exceed our giving from last year.

Deupree House residents Ann Bullock, Chet Cavaliere, Victoria Chisholm, and Sayers Sarran worked together with Nancy Powell, President of the Marjorie P. Lee Auxiliary, and board members Trish Martindell and Kit Duvall to ensure that the menu, program, and invitations were nothing less than stellar.

And of course, we can’t forget the support of our title sponsor PNC and sustaining sponsors Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, the Diocese of Southern Ohio, and local realtors Henkle Schueler who made the evening possible.