Ed Wilson, chief meteorologist at WHO Channel 13 in Des Moines, returns to his hometown February 3 to host the Grundy County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s annual fundraising dinner and auction. Photo submitted

GRUNDY CENTER, Iowa A sunny forecast is in the works for the eleventh annual Gala & Auction to benefit the Grundy County Memorial Hospital Foundation. Grundy Center native and WHO TV meteorologist Ed Wilson will emcee the Saturday, February 3 event at the Grundy Center Community Center. Tickets are now on sale for the evening, which includes a social hour, dinner, raffle and auction. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Grundy Community Center, with the goal of raising funds to support equipment needs in the hospital’s Therapy, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Radiology departments.

Guests in attendance will have the opportunity to bid on specialty live auction packages including LASIK Eye Surgery from Wolfe Eye Clinic, eight tickets in a suite for a Minnesota Vikings preseason game courtesy of FCS, and a 5-night stay in a Daytona Beach condo provided by Joseph and Cher McMonigle.

“The Gala is an opportunity for community members to join the effort to help maintain first rate health care locally. This is our largest fundraising event of the year, and it helps the hospital provide the big and little things that add up to great patient care,” says Foundation event coordinator Erin Schildroth. “Businesses have been generous with auction items, and there is a great variety of packages to bid on. Plus, our volunteer committee of Kelly Dinsdale, Kate Durbin, Rhonda Samo, Cindy Simms and Deb Wentzien is planning a fun evening based on this year’s ‘Sparkle and Twang’ theme,” says Schildroth. Tickets are available until January 22 by contacting Schildroth at GCMH_Foundation@unitypoint.org or phoning 319-824-4147.

Silent Auction items will be on display in the hospital lobby for bidding beginning January 23. A complete list of auction items may be also be found on the hospital’s website, www.grundycountyhospital.org.