Annual Fundraising Gala Set for Saturday, April 12th,
at Milford Town Hall with Hollywood Theme

Milford, MA – Searchlights will be scanning the Milford skies, red carpets will cover the sidewalk as valets park cars and the Grand Ballroom of Milford Town Hall will be transformed for one night on Saturday, April 12, 2008, when Milford Regional Medical Center holds “Mélange: The Golden Age of Hollywood,” its fourth annual black-tie fundraising gala.

“We are very excited about this theme,” said Francis M. Saba, CEO of Milford Regional Medical Center, which serves Milford and 20 surrounding towns from Hopkinton to Franklin and the Blackstone Valley. “This is our fourth year and each Mélange has been bigger than the last, raising more than $300,000 for Milford Regional in its first three years. It's a wonderful way for our community to come together and we're so grateful for their support. This year the proceeds will go toward expanding cardiac services at the hospital.”

“This is going to be a spectacular evening,” said Elaine Osgood, president and CEO of Atlas Travel International, who has served as chair of the Mélange committee for each of the four years. “We've hosted celebrity chefs at Clarke, created four pink-themed nightclubs at Consigli Construction and created an incredible evening in Provence, Paris and Monte Carlo, France at the Warren Center. Now we're coming home to Milford Town Hall to say Hooray for Hollywood.”

“We're looking for sponsors, auction donations and ticket sales,” said Osgood, whose Milford-based travel agency was the first major sponsor for last year's event.

“Local businesses and residents can participate in many ways,” she continued. “We are still looking for new members to join the Mélange committee to get the word out and help plan the event. As a local employer, I challenge all businesses whose employees have used Milford Regional Medical Center to join this effort. It's important to support this award-winning non-profit hospital in its efforts to serve the community.”

This social event has attracted more than 200 guests and 50 sponsors each year. The auction, featuring charismatic auctioneer Paul Zekos again this year, is touted to raise even more than the $70,000 it garnered in 2007.

“Sponsorship and auction item donation are wonderful ways to get your name recognized in this community,” said Osgood. “The earlier you become involved, the more recognition you will get leading right up to the event. This is a win-win with businesses raising visibility while supporting a wonderful cause.”

Tickets go on sale February 1st for $175 per person. For more information on joining the committee, becoming a sponsor or donating to the auction, please contact Sheba Verma at the Milford Regional Development Office at 508-422-2034.