The 2024 Eden Calhoun Charitable Fund Gala is taking it a step up this year as we are generously being hosted by the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Convention Center in Florence, Alabama! This fundraising event will be our only in-person event of the year, so come get dressed up in your best cocktail attire, participate in our silent auction & 50/50 raffle drawings, enjoy drinks & a delicious dinner, listen to our incredible Keynote Speakers (back from Houston, TX!), and raise money for the Eden Calhoun Charitable Fund!

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About the night: Cocktail attire is required for this event. Doors will open EARLY for our wonderful sponsors starting at 5:45 pm. These guests will get a first look at our incredible silent auction selection, special time with the ECCF Board Members and Keynotes Speakers, and will have the opportunity to get drinks and appetizers before our other guests arrive. Doors will open for the remainder of our guests at 6:00 pm. We will have a bartender available for drinks as well as appetizers throughout the venue. As you mingle, you can take a look at our silent auction as well as our 50/50 raffle prize. Our 3 course meal will be served around 7:00 pm with speeches starting at around 8:00 pm. At the conclusion of our speakers, there will be ample time to check on your silent auction bids, purchase more 50/50 raffle tickets, and get your final drinks of the night. We are aiming to announce winners & be done with the night by 9:15 pm. Live entertainment will feature Jared Brasher!

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Dinner: All food and beverage from the night will be catered by Marriott Shoals Hotel Spa & Convention Center Catering Service. Appetizers will be available when guests arrive and will conclude before dinner. Attendees’ tickets will come with a three-course meal, accompanied with iced water, iced tea, or coffee as well as dinner rolls. The first course will be a Garden Salad. The second course will be the entree, with three amazing options to choose from:
 

1) Herb Crusted Chicken with mushroom trio, roasted baby heirloom tomatoes,

tarragon demi glaze, baby potato medley, haricot verts and oven roasted carrots.
2) Center Cut Pork Chop with moonshine glaze, sweet potato mash, roasted brussels sprouts and baby carrots.
3) Corn Bread Crusted Salmon with Hoppin John rice, southern succotash, Cajun cream.

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The third and final course will be dessert! Guests will get the option between the Triple Chocolate Cake or New York Cheesecake with Fresh Berry compote.

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Keynote Speakers/Featured Guests: Our current lineup of featured guests include Dr. Matthew Harting & Dr. Natalie Drucker from Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, TX! These surgeons were a part of Eden's core group of doctors during her time in Houston, and we are more than thankful that they are willing to fly out with their busy schedule to attend the ECCF Gala! Please give them a warm Alabama welcome! Our first Keynote Speaker this year will be Dr. Matthew Harting, who is an Associate Professor at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, the Medical Director of the Pediatric ECMO Program, and the Co-Director, High-risk, Multi-Disciplinary Clinic for CDH at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. Our second Keynote Speaker will be Lexie Calhoun, President of the Eden Calhoun Charitable Fund and Eden's Mom. 

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Ticket Options & Sponsorship Levels: We have multiple options to purchase tickets for our 2024 Gala. Please purchase tickets at the bottom of this page. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact Lexie at info@ahandtoalwayshold.org for purchasing options!

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Legacy Sponsor: $2500

INCLUDES: 15 minute early-bird entry, 1 full table that seats 8 guests with front-row seating, $100 ECCF merchandise voucher,

3 complimentary beer/wine beverages per guest, 3 course dinner per guest, party favors for each guest,

FREE ECCF Newsletter business advertisement/shout-outs for the year, and business recognition on table & ECCF website/social media.

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Hope Sponsor: $1700

INCLUDES: 15 minute early-bird entry, 1 full table that seats 8 guests with priority seating, $50 ECCF merchandise voucher,

2 complimentary beer/wine beverages per guest, 3 course dinner per guest, party favors for each guest,

and business recognition on table & ECCF website/social media.

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Courage Sponsor: $1250

INCLUDES: 15 minute early-bird entry, 1 full table that seats 8 guests with priority seating, 2 complimentary beer/wine beverages per guest,

3 course dinner per guest, party favors for each guest, and business recognition on table & ECCF website/social media.

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Full Table Ticket: $800

INCLUDES: 2 complimentary beer/wine beverages per person, full table that seats 8 guests with mid-floor seating, &

3 course dinner meals (see above for details)

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Individual Ticket: $100

INCLUDES: 1 complimentary beer/wine beverage, general seating, & 3 course dinner meal (see above for details)

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For Out-of-Town Attendees: For guests flying in, the best options are to fly into either Huntsville International Airport (45 min-1 hour away) or Birmingham International Airport (2 hours away). For nightly rooms, our guests have multiple options in the Shoals area! If you'd like to stay at the Marriott Shoals Hotel where our Gala will be hosted at, please click HERE to book your room. There are also many other wonderful hotels in the Florence/Shoals area to choose from, including Hampton Inn & Suites Florence-Downtown (2.8 miles away, ~6 minute drive), Hampton Inn Florence-Midtown (2.3 miles, ~7 minute drive), Strickland Hotel (3.2 miles, ~9 minute drive), Residence Inn by Marriott Florence (2.7 miles, ~6 minute drive). If you have any questions regarding travel, please email info@ahandtoalwayshold.org.

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More About Marriott Shoals Hotel Spa & Convention Center: Rated #1 Best Alabama Hotel by U.S. News, the Marriott Shoals Hotel has many amenities to offer! Not only do they have luxurious, comfortable rooms with balconies, but they also have fine dining, a full service spa, and business/fitness centers. Please see the links below for a full list of the awards/accolades the Marriott Shoals has won, as well as more about the famous Muscle Shoals! The Gala will be held in the Shoals CDE Ballroom.