The annual Red Ball is a black-tie gala, with a splash of red, to support the efforts of The Sage Foundation for Health’s mission to provide the unserved, underserved, and indigent people of Arizona with free, quality natural and conventional health care.

On May 10, 2008 the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz. will provide a night to remember with dancing, a live and silent auction, an exquisite dinner, and the opportunity to help those in need obtain medical care. Proceeds from the Red Ball will benefit The Sage Foundation for Health and Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine’s continued efforts to provide quality free medical care to over 15,000 people in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Southwest College and The Sage Foundation provide essential health services for children at the Hamilton Elementary School Clinic, women at Sojourner Center, men and women coping with substance abuse at Arizona Pathways and Royal Assisted Living Center, and individuals of all backgrounds fighting to overcome the life constraints of living with HIV at Body Positive. Free Primary care is provided to individuals at Mission of Mercy, Guadalupe Family Health Center, and the Native American Community Health Center, Inc.

While The Sage Foundation supports and improves the health of thousands each year, there is much more that needs to be done. The desire is to expand services to existing and new locations. Additional services would include nutrition classes and medical care for people with diabetes (a growing epidemic) and there are many more that need primary medical care.

At the Fourth Annual Red Ball, Dudley Halpe, M.D. will be the recipient of the Humanitarian Award for his decades of service at Gift of Life. Gift of Life provides free medical services to children suffering from heart disease and other similar or allied diseases, regardless of race, gender, creed or national origin, who would otherwise lack access to such services.

Originally through Gift of Life, children were identified with cardiac-related or similar health problems in their home countries and were flown to the United States where a volunteer team of medical professionals would perform the necessary life-saving surgery. In the 30 years that Gift of Life has been growing worldwide, affiliate hospitals, medical centers, and health professionals have been established in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, reducing the need for extensive travel for the children and their families. To date, the generous benefactors and volunteers at Gift of Life have saved the lives of more than 9,000 children.

For reservations visit www.blacktie-arizona.com, event code: Red. For donations, or to RSVP by phone, contact Kerri Weiss, SCNM Development and Community Relations Manager, at 480-222-9224 or k.weiss@scnm.edu.

About the Sage Foundation for Health