Funds Support Day Kimball Hospital’s da Vinci Surgical Robotic System

The Woman’s Board of Day Kimball Hospital (WBDKH) raised $16,000 at its annual Valentine Dinner Dance on February 11 held at Wright’s Mill Farm in Canterbury, CT. The funds will support the WBDKH’s $250,000 pledge to support Day Kimball Hospital’s recently acquired da Vinci surgical robotic system. 

Over 140 people were in attendance, including Woman’s Board members, family, friends, DKH Administrators and staff, as well as sponsors and community supporters. Participants came together to share a delicious buffet meal, bid on silent auction items, enjoy raffles, and dance the night away to entertainment provided by John DonFrancisco of JDF Entertainment. The event, which had been on a hiatus for three years due to the pandemic, made a return to the original venue where the dance was first held in 2016.

"We are so grateful for the philanthropic support we receive from the Woman’s Board which is critical to assisting DKH achieve its mission of improving the health and well-being of our community by providing the best medical care,” said Kyle Kramer, chief executive officer, Day Kimball Healthcare. “These ladies really know how to throw a party, and the event was sincerely welcomed and enjoyed after a 3-year break. We truly appreciate the Woman’s Board’s spirit and enthusiasm, and we congratulate them on the success of this wonderful event that will benefit the lives of countless people across our region.” 

In addition to attending the event, Mr. Kramer also partnered with DKH Master Chef Keith Collins to donate a 5-course dinner for 8 with wine pairings for the silent auction. Wines will be provided from Mr. Kramer’s personal wine collection and will include a Zoom visit from the featured winemaker. Servers for the dinner will be members of DKH’s leadership team.

The Valentine Dinner Dance coupled with sales at the gift shop at Day Kimball Hospital, along with several upcoming fundraising efforts including, “The Power of You” Women’s Expo in April, a Kentucky Derby event set for May, its Annual Raffle in June, a women-only Golf Tournament in September, Author’s Night in October, Dining for a Cause Event in November, and the popular “Holly Jolly Cash Calendar” raffle from Thanksgiving to Christmas, will all support the WBDKH’s current pledge. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of The Valentine's Dance Committee and WBDKH Fundraising Committee, spearheaded by Arlene Baril, Linnea Sarantopolous, and Cheryl Medlyn for all the hard work, creativity, attention to detail, and dedication they put into this fundraising project,” said Valentine Iamartino, WBDKH President. “Because of their efforts, the dance was a huge hit for all who attended and was an even bigger success for the organization. I am so thankful for the continued support of business and community sponsors and donors who helped us achieve a record number of sponsorship dollars for this annual event.”

It is the mission of the Woman’s Board to raise funds to enhance the quality and services of Day Kimball Hospital. Established when Day Kimball Hospital opened in 1894, the Woman’s Board has served the hospital and community in multiple ways for well over a century, and has raised nearly $2 million to support important and necessary medical equipment needs at the Hospital, including the Hospital’s first ambulance in the early 1900s.  

For more information about the Woman’s Board of Day Kimball Hospital, visit www.daykimball.org/womansboard.  

PHOTO CAPTION: Members of the Woman's Board of Day Kimball Hospital pose for a group shot at a Valentine Dinner Dance held at Wright’s Mill Farm in Canterbury on Saturday, February 11, 2023.