47th Annual Gold Ball Honors Rhonda Forsyth
Now in its 47th year, the Gold Ball was founded by the John C. Lincoln Health Foundation and the Lincoln Health Foundation Guild. This year’s Oct. 29 ball at The Phoenician was the first hosted by HonorHealth Foundation, which formed after the merger of the John C. Lincoln Health Foundation and Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation.
The event, themed “Under the Autumn Moon,” featured fall colors and décor. Six hundred fifty attended the black-tie soirée, which included live and silent auctions and dinner. Guests danced to live music from The Instant Classics.
Rhonda Forsyth, president of HonorHealth, was presented the Doctor of Philanthropy award for her many years of dedication to the Gold Ball and HonorHealth Desert Mission, which the ball helps support. Forsyth served as CEO of the former John C. Lincoln Health Network before becoming president and CEO of the network. This December, she will retire from HonorHealth.
Desert Mission helps vulnerable individuals and families address their health and social needs with programs such as the Food Bank, Lincoln Learning Center and Adult Day Healthcare, located on the HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center campus. Over the years, the Gold Ball has raised more than $8.3 million to benefit the community services and programs of HonorHealth Desert Mission.
Long-time Gold Ball and Desert Mission supporter Linda Surdakowski was the 2016 Gold Ball chair. She has supported the event for many years with her husband Dr. Frank Surdakowski. Barbara Walchli and Larry Seay served as honorary co-chairs of the event. Seay recently retired as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Meritage Homes. He previously served on the John C. Lincoln Health Foundation Board of Directors and currently serves on the HonorHealth Foundation Board of Trustees and the HonorHealth Board of Directors.
PHOTOS BY ASHLEY LOWERY AND BRAD REED/COURTESY HONORHEALTH FOUNDATION
John and Linda French with Linda Surdakowski and Dr. Frank Surdakowski BRAD REED
Chris and Rhonda Forsyth and Mary and Tom Sadvary BRAD REED
Erica MacKenzie, Robert MacKenzie and Julie Arvo MacKenzie BRAD REED
Pete DeWitt, Victoria DeWitt, Karen DeWitt, Bryan DeWitt, Tiffany DeWitt and Matt DeWitt BRAD REED
Chris Perez, Kathryn Lincoln, Harper Worker and David Lincoln BRAD REED
Sandi York and Dr. Clark York ASHLEY LOWERY
Dave and Karen Call; Brad and Karen Clothier ASHLEY LOWERY
Ellen and Howard Katz; Senator Jon and Caryll Kyl ASHLEY LOWERY
Larry Seay and Barbara Walchli BRAD REED
The Instant Classics ASHLEY LOWERY
Todd LaPorte, Tom Sadvary and Steve Wheeler BRAD REED
