The 2019 Rutherford Society Capital Campaign Kick-Off was held Saturday night at the Stones River Country Club. British autistic musical savant Derek Paravicini will offer a piano concert at the Embassy Suites on Saturday evening, January 19, 2019. Donations made prior to the end of this year of more than $1,000 to the Rutherford Society enable the donors to attend.

The evening also honored Pallie and David Jones with the Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award. David told WGNS . . .

In addition, the Physician Champion Award honored Dr. Edward "Dunk" Eastham. He commented . . .

Capital Campaign

St. Thomas Ascension Rutherford Hospital's President and CEO Gordon Ferguson announced the second capital campaign to fund needed expansion at the eight year old state of the art medical facility. This would include adding a sixth, seventh and eighth floor to one wing and 105 more beds. It also would make additional expansion and improvements in the hospital's emergency room, which is the second busiest ER in Tennessee.

Gifts from the Rutherford Society are a major source of funding for hospital improvements, and the annual gala is one way the foundation can show appreciation to its supporters.

More About Derek Paravicini

More on guest pianist Derek Paravicini who will perform in January. He was born extremely prematurely in 1979 at 25-weeks.

Ironically, at about the same time this community was moving into its new hospital, Paravicini was making legal history when the United Kingdom's last remaining secret court was opened for the first time to discuss his future care. The Court of Protection controls the future of adults who are incapable of managing their own life. The court appointed his divorced parents to look after his welfare and commercial future.

The autistic musical prodigy has played concerts all over the world. Paravincini has absolute pitch, and discovered at age two that he could play any song perfectly on the piano after hearing it only one-time.

For more information about the Rutherford Society and how you can be a part of their calling, phone 615-396-4693.