The kickoff for the "2018 Rutherford Society Gala" was held Thursday (8/24/2017) evening at the Grove at Williamson Place.

The 2018 gala speaker was announced. It will be magician and Philadelphia Eagle long-snapper Jon Dorenbos. The Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award went to Ted and Gloria LaRoche. In addition, the St. Thomas Rutherford Foundation's Physician Champion Award was given to Dr. Mary Jane Brown.

Physician Champion Award

Dr. Brown has been with the Christy Houston Foundation Emergency Department at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital for the past 31-years.

Dr. Brown told NewsRadio WGNS . . .

(Time: 31-seconds)

Last year, the local emergency room helped 90,300 persons, making it one of the busiest ER's in Middle Tennessee.

Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award

The Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award was presented to Ted and Gloria LaRoche . . .

(Time: 19-seconds)

2018 Gala Speaker

The speaker at the 2018 Gala is an NFL football player who is also a magician. Jon Dorenbos graduated from the University of Texas, El Paso, with a degree in Business. He was picked up by the Buffalo Bills as a free agent in 2003. He has since played for the Tennessee Titans and he is currently playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and entering his 14th season in the NFL.

Jon Dorenbos' past has made him the man he is today. In August, of 1992, at the age of 12, his father murdered his mother. His father was convicted of 2nd degree murder and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. After the completion of his his fathers trial he and his sister, Kristina, moved in with a temporary foster family, The Robson's, to allow them to finish their respective school years. Following the school year Jon and Kristina moved from Woodinville, WA, to Garden Grove, CA, to live with their aunt, Susan. At the time Susan had no children and took Jon and Kristina in as her own. She devoted her life to her sister's kids and became the best mom anyone could ask for.

Jon got into magic just before his 13th birthday. He instantly fell in love with it. Magic became an escape during a time of mourning and transition in his life. He was obsessed with the sleights and skills involved. He spent all day, every day, practicing and rehearsing in front of the mirror. Jon's aunt, Susan, had a friend, Ken Sands, who was a magician and she made the introduction. Ken became a mentor, a friend and a father figure for Jon for years to come. Ken didn't just teach Jon the fundamentals of a trick, he taught him how to find himself as a performer.

Expansion

St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital President and CEO Gordon Fergusson talked more about the $71-million expansion that was announced last month. The 286 bed hospital will add 72 beds to better serve the exploding population. In addition, a new surgery center is also being planned.

In Tennessee, Ascension's Saint Thomas Health operates St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital along with eight other hospitals in addition to a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities that cover a 68-county area and employ more than 8,000 associates. Across the state, Saint Thomas Health provided more than $78 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2016. Serving Tennessee for 15 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world's largest Catholic health system, operating 2,500 sites of care - including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities - in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.sthealth.com.

Hear the entire interviews:

Dr. Mary Jane Brown:

(Time: 2-minutes and 31-seconds)

Ted and Gloria LaRoche:

(Time: 54-seconds)