The 20th anniversary of Memorial Hospital and Manor’s Gala will be a simple “Black and White” event at a new venue, the Kirbo Regional Center at Bainbridge College.

Foundation Chairman Jane Conger said decorations will be simple, but elegant for the annual black-tie extravaganza, which will be held Thursday night.

An exquisite dinner, musical entertainment, and both a silent and live auction are part of the Foundation’s effort to provide needed equipment for Memorial Hospital and Manor.

Aaron Seiler and the Ravel Quartet, a string quartet from the Florida State University, will provide musical entertainment during the Silent Auction, beginning at 6 p.m. The group performs as regular members of the Tallahassee, Valdosta, Gulf Coast, Northwest Florida and Pensacola Symphony orchestras. They will be performing selections from a wide range of styles within “classical” music, featuring composers such as J.S. Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Vivaldi, Gluck, Anderson, Schumann, and of course, Ravel.

Contributions for the Gala are made through ticket purchases and through silent auction and live auction items.

Through 17 years of the Memorial Hospital and Manor Gala, the Foundation has raised almost $900,000 from community contributions to fund special equipment purchases for the hospital. All proceeds from the auction and ticket sales will fund the purchase of needed equipment for the hospital, including a Philips TC70 EKG System for Respiratory Therapy, a LaserPrism with AIM System-Laser/E-Stim Combo Unit for the Rehabilitation Department, and two Drager Medical C2000 Isolette incubators for the Kirbo Women’s Center nursery.

Memorial Hospital and Manor Dining Services Director Suzan Onstott Yates and her staff will serve a spectacular Gala dinner .

Gala Auction Chairman Jean Reynolds has compiled a diversified group of items for ladies, men and families.

After dinner, Charles Tyson will again serve as auctioneer for the very spirited live auction. Live auction items include a Remington 1100 G3 12-gauge shotgun donated by the medical staff of Memorial Hospital and Manor, with special thanks to Southern Trading Company.

Other live auction donations include an original jewelry design by Ken Markham of Kres Jewelers, a week’s vacation at a mountain retreat donated by Ken and Vicki Bailey, a half day quail hunt for four at SouthWind Plantation, compliments of Tim Smith, and an elegant dinner for eight catered by Morrell and Faye Martin of Elizabeth’s.

Almost 50 silent auction items also await bids from Gala patrons for everything from art to antiques, portraits to parties, facials to food, or even hunting trips, boating trips, deer processing, and home decor, all to benefit the Memorial Hospital and Manor Foundation.