On February 28, 2015, Chattanooga physicians and health care leaders will come together at the Chattanooga Convention Center for an evening of music and food, and a celebration of healing. The event will be the tenth annual Denim and Diamonds fundraiser, which helps support the Project Access community health partnership and other community health initiatives.

Since Project Access began in 2004, more than 700 volunteer physicians, the Erlanger, Memorial, and Parkridge Health Systems, and other partners have provided more than $120 million in donated health care services to the working poor. Many of these folks are employed by Chattanooga companies, often working part-time so they don’t qualify for or can’t afford employment-based health insurance.

Their stories are remarkable. People have recovered from cancer or had life-saving surgery that enabled them to continue working, supporting their families, being productive community members.

It is also remarkable that every Project Access partner provides their services absolutely free of charge. They are doing all they can to care for Hamilton County residents who are sick without health insurance.

But we need your help. Helping is easier than operating on a patient, or treating cancer, or setting a broken limb. You can help by becoming an auction donor for Denim and Diamonds! As a donor, your company name will be seen by hundreds of area physicians and their spouses, as well as many other community leaders. Even better, we are having an auction online leading up to the event, which will be marketed throughout the community. If you prohibit donations to be used in the online auction, we will use it at the silent auction at the actual event.

This evening will include dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions, and lots of surprises. But most importantly, the evening is a chance for the entire community to honor the contributions of hundreds of caring physicians and other health care partners.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Kevin Lusk at (423) 622-2872. Your contribution, made to the Medical Foundation of Chattanooga, Inc., (Tax Number 58-1696660) is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.