2010 Amedisys Soaring to New Heights Annual Event to Benefit Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation; Community Invited to Support the Pennington Biomedical Reearch Center - 06.07.2010

BATON ROUGE - The Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation (PBRF) is inviting the community to join in its annual fundraising event, Soaring to New Heights, at a special ticketed event on Saturday, August 7.
 
The event is an annual fundraising celebration held during the Pennington Balloon Championships, a hot air balloon pilot competition managed by the Louisiana Ballooning Foundation on the grounds of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.  Proceeds help support PBRC’s health, nutrition and preventive medicine research that aims to provide preventive solutions and cures relating to diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer and dementia.

Reserved seating tickets for the cocktail buffet in a special tented area on the grounds of the Pennington campus can be purchased at www.pbrf.org.

The Foundation announced today that Amedisys Home Health Services, Inc., a Baton Rouge-based home health company, is the title sponsor of this year’s event, 2010 Amedisys Soaring to New Heights.
Proceeds from the 2010 Amedisys Soaring to New Heights event scheduled for Saturday, August 7, benefit the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation. The Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation provides the Pennington Biomedical Research Center  (PBRC) with vital funding for nutrition-based research that aims to prevent premature death from chronic diseases.

"Through our sponsorship, we want to encourage organizations and individuals to support the groundbreaking work of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center,” said Amedisys Founder and CEO William F. Borne. “Amedisys shares many of the same goals as the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, especially those placed on preventive medicine. Staying healthy and enhancing one’s quality of life  are goals shared by both organizations.”

Other major underwriters are Presenting Sponsor: Irene W. and C. B. Pennington Foundation; Soaring Gold Sponsor: Merrill Lynch; Soaring Silver Sponsors: Albemarle Corporation: Annette Barton; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana; J. B. James Construction; Long Law Firm, LLP; and Milton J. Womack General Contractor, Inc.; and Washer Hill Lipscomb Cabaniss Architecture, LLC; Soaring Bronze Sponsors: Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc.; Jim and Laura Bailey; Barrett, Vernon & Montgomery, LLC; Bruce Foods Corporation; Business First Bank of Baton Rouge; Sylvia and Gene Duke; Investar Bank; KPMG, LLP; LEMIC Insurance Company; Postlethwaite & Netterville, APAC; and University Club Plantation.

Event in-kind support has been provided by Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company; Baton Rouge General Medical Center; Cake Palace; Campus Federal Credit Union; Cintas; Lamar Advertising; Mockler Beverage - Budweiser; Party Paradise; and Rickey Heroman’s Florist & Gifts.

Jennifer Winstead, PBRF president and chief executive officer, extends a special thanks to the volunteer support team from Campus Federal Credit Union and to the 2010 Soaring to New Heights Committee co-chaired by Blaine Grimes and Buddy Tucker.  Other volunteer committee members are Annette Barton, Kelli Bondy, Ace Bourgeois, Shannon Cerise; Tristi Charpentier; Maxine Cormier, Paula P. de la Bretonne, Anne Duke, Sylvia Duke, Barbara Anne Eaton, Pam Fisher, Holly Hidalgo-Dekeyzer, Lisa Landry, C.C. Lewis, Robin Post, Julie Preau, Margaret Read, Christy Reeves, Sophia Riley, Tena Roemer, Mandy Shipp, Page Silvia and Mary Simpson.
          
This unique Soaring event offers reserved seating, cocktails and an exclusive catered buffet in special tents adjacent to the Saturday evening balloon glow site. "Now in its 7th year, this unique family event has grown since the initial one launched in 2004.  Guests of all ages look forward to enjoying fun, fireworks and friends.  We look forward to seeing all our community neighbors and supporters during this spectacular evening, -- all to benefit the work of our PBRC researchers and scientists," said Winstead.

Individual tickets and tables for the 2010 Amedisys Soaring to New Heights event include special guest parking passes and entrance passes into the reserved Soaring area--a prime viewing location for the balloon glow, fireworks, and music.   The Soaring event entrance gate will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 7, 2010. 

To make reservations to attend the 2010 Amedisys Soaring to New Heights event, contact the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation at 225-763-2511 or www.pbrf.org.

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For More Information Contact:
Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation
Jessica Alleyne, 225-763-2645
Angela deGravelles, 225-202-5073
http://www.pbrf.org