ST. GEORGE — The Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic of St. George will host its annual benefit, the “Spirit of Hope Gala,” Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in the Dixie Center Garden Room, 1835 S. Convention Center Drive, St. George.

The event, which will raise funds for the Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic, will feature dinner catered by Heritage Catering, a cash bar, a silent auction and entertainment provided by professional singer Brodie Perry. Perry will be joined on stage by the John Houston Gospel Choir and other special guests who will combine their talents to create a magical night for an important cause.

The Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic is a nonprofit health clinic that is funded entirely through private donations, clinic Operations Manager Melissa Lewis said.

One of the things the clinic staff are most proud of is that 96 percent of all funding goes directly to patient care, Lewis said.

The clinic provides affordable primary care, dental and mental health services to uninsured, underinsured and low-income patients living in Southern Utah. Local physicians, dentists, psychologists and psychiatrists as well as other specialists such as urologists, podiatrist, allergists and dieticians volunteer their time and expertise to help those who need it most.

In 2015 the Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic of St. George saw 11,000 patients at a cost to the clinic of about $28 per patient. Patients who come into the clinic are asked to give a $10 donation and most of them do, Lewis said, adding patients who cannot donate money often give back to the clinic with other services such as mowing the lawns, maintaining the grounds or cleaning the clinic.

Mental health is a primary area of care that the clinic offers, Lewis said, an area that has grown over the past five years from about 15 percent of their patient population to 40 percent in 2015.

The clinic is the only place in St. George that provides mental health services to patients without insurance, Lewis said, and they try to keep an open appointment each day for people in crisis.

The 2015 “Spirit of Hope Gala” raised $30,000 dollars for the clinic. Lewis said they are hoping to exceed that number this year.

“As our patient encounters grow,”Lewis said, “the cost to the clinic is a little more each year.”

Saturday’s benefit will include a silent auction. Guests can bid on a variety of exciting items including family packages for Fiesta Family Fun Center, golf packages, Tuacahn ticket packages, family photo shoots, passes to the Washington City Community Center, stays at Zion Lodge and the CasaBlanca Resort and Casino in Mesquite, Nevada, and much more.

Tickets are $125 for individuals and $1,000 for a table of eight. Businesses who purchase an entire table will be considered bronze level sponsors of the event, Lewis said.

Guests can purchase their tickets online or by calling Lewis at 435-632-8645.

Event details

• What: “Spirit of Hope Gala” to benefit Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic of St. George
• When: Saturday, April 9, 5:30 p.m.
• Where: Dixie Convention Center Garden Room, 1835 S. Convention Center Drive, St. George
• Cost: $125 per person | $1,000 per table (tables seat eight)
• Purchase tickets: Online | By calling Melissa Lewis at 435-632-8645

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