A toast to a hugely successful campaign is what supporters of the Lee Memorial Foundation are saying, following its annual Wine and Beer Tasting Event fundraiser that was held Aug. 1 at Blackmond’s Sesquicentennial Farm at Indian Lake.

Preliminary figures show nearly $20,000 raised by a record attendance of 350 friends of Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, who sampled the wares of some of southwest Michigan’s finest wineries and breweries.

They came to support the hospital’s “It’s About the Place We Call Home” capital campaign. The two-year, $1 million campaign – $500,000 from the Lee Memorial Foundation, and a matching $500,000 from Borgess Health – began in 2014 and focuses on interior and exterior renovations, as well as purchasing medical beds and state-of-the-art surgical instruments.

“This event keeps getting better every year,” said John Ryder, chief operating officer, Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital. “The beautiful venue, the food and music, the opportunity to sample some of the area’s finest wines and beers, and the good people who attend – you just couldn’t ask for a nicer gathering to attend. I am so very grateful for the community support and the great people who pull together to make this the amazing event that it is.”

“My wife, Sarah, and I had a wonderful time at the event,” said David Mathews, president, Southwestern Michigan College. “The food, the beer and wine tasting, the music and the venue were all superb. It was great to see so many community-minded people come out and support our local hospital.”

The $50 per person tickets for the fundraiser were matched by Borgess Health as part of the Lee Memorial Foundation’s capital campaign.

“For this campaign, every dollar that is raised locally gets matched by Borgess,” said Tony McDonnell, chief development officer, Borgess Foundation. “Borgess-Lee is a vital asset that serves many of the county’s medical needs. We want to ensure this hospital remains the destination of healing for the residents of Cass County.”

Sixteen raffle items were also featured:

• Four Cubs tickets for the September 5 Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game and a Cubs Wrist Watch, donated by the Thrall Family – value $330

• Weber grill with charcoal and utensils, beer and meat, donated by the Buddig Family – value $250

• Amish-Made Child’s Table and Chairs, donated by Imperial Furniture – value $300

• Eighteen Bottle Wine Cooler with Wine, donated by the Carlson and Cripe Families – value $500

• Two Notre Dame vs. Navy tickets for Oct. 10 with Tailgate Party and ND Football, donated by Tom and Carolyn Carlson

• Two Chicago Bears tickets, donated by Brooke Thrall – value $175

• Cheese, Sausage and Mustard, donated by Mike and Claudia Rotroff – value $75

• Shoreline Brewery Basket, donated by Shoreline Brewery, Michigan City-Dave Strupeck – value $100

• Four Center Ice Chicago Blackhawks tickets with parking pass, donated by the Thrall Family – value $600

• Two 18 hole rounds of golf with cart for 4, donated by Indian Lake Hills CC: and one Taylor Made Aeroburner Driver, 1 Odyssey Putter and Titleist Balls, donated by Spruce Ridge Golf Club(Chris Foote) – value $530

• In office teeth whitening, donated by Cassopolis Dental-Dr. John Hayman – value $250

• Wine Entertainment Basket, donated by Michael and Kimberly Carter – value $100

• Taste of Chicago Basket, donated by Jeff and Theresa Karstrand, Terry and Julie Karstrand, Frank and Mary Beth Luna, and Brian and Katy Rotroff – value $160

• Meats by Linz, donated by Frank Luna, Michael Luna and Matt Rotroff – value $200

• Wine and Beer Tasting Wagon, donated by Rich and Sue McCormick, and Shani and

John Zinn – value $500

• Pure Southwest Michigan Food and Fun Package, $25 Gift Certificate, donated by the Wood Fire, AND a Water Tube and Ski Rope – value $150

“Good food, the attendees were all in high spirits, and it was a beautiful environment,” said Caroline Kusa, RN, trauma nurse coordinator, Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital. “Everyone should be proud of their part in making this a successful evening for the hospital.