Thanks to superheroic efforts, Methodist Health System Foundation exceeded the $20 million goal for its BrightER capital campaign, the most ambitious fundraising effort in Methodist’s 86-year history. The money helped complete the Charles A. Simmons Tower at Methodist Dallas, one of the largest investments south of the Trinity River in decades.
To celebrate, April Box Chamberlain, president and CEO of Methodist Health System Foundation, and Chris Kleinert, chair of the BrightER Capital Campaign committee, hosted a “super” success party at the Cloud Nine Cafe in Reunion Tower — including a visit from Superman himself.
The evening began with a welcome from Kleinert, followed by the invocation delivered by Bishop Mike McKee of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Kleinert thanked honorary co-chairs Nancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt and his fellow committee members for their extraordinary efforts, and then made a big announcement.
“A $5 million gift from the Charles A. Sammons Foundation began the campaign, and I am pleased to announce that there is a gift that has put the campaign over the $20 million mark. That gift is $750,000 from the Meadows Foundation. In celebration of the campaign and the imminent opening of this extraordinary facility, tonight the Reunion ball will be lit in Methodist colors and signature daisy.”
Chamberlain also thanked those in attendance — including Dr. Sylvia Hargrave, Joy Duncan, Sally and Waddell Mashburn, Heather Hunt, Cheryl and Roderick Washington, and Brandi and Pete Chilian — and presented Kleinert with an honorary white coat, declaring him Methodist’s own Clark Kent.
“Once he saw the vision and understood the importance of what Methodist Dallas and exceptional trauma care means to our entire city, he transformed from a mild-mannered businessman to a superhero,” she said. Then, to everyone’s surprise and delight, a real Superman arrived on the scene to gift Kleinert with a much-deserved cape.
The $122 million Charles A. Sammons Trauma and Critical Care Tower at Methodist Dallas is scheduled for completion in July. The groundbreaking was held on September 11, 2012, in the remembrance of the selfless sacrifice of the first responders who help those in need of critical care. The one-of-a-kind, 248,000-square-foot trauma and critical care center will expand the hospital’s emergency department tenfold and will serve the 1,500 trauma patients the Methodist Dallas Medical Center helps every year.
April Box Chamberlain, Superman, Chris Kleinert
