From the 2013 Evening of Elegance, Linda Ogle and Emily Kile with former Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation Board Chair Ann Montgomery. Image courtesy of the Convention Center.

SEVIERVILLE, TN – This Saturday, August 16, the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation will celebrate the 25th year of its signature event – the Evening of Elegance ball and auction – with a sparkling night of tributes to the health of Sevier County. Themed “To Your Health!”. The 2014 Evening of Elegance will honor the sponsors and donors who have given so generously over the last 25 years to support the Foundation’s efforts to improve the health of the community.

The event will once again be held at the Sevierville Convention Center, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, followed by dinner, a live auction and dancing into the night to the music of Soul Connection. Bidders in the auction will have the opportunity to purchase the exclusive first stay in Dolly Parton’s celebrity suite, officially known as Dolly’s Suite Dreams, the crown jewel of the 307-room DreamMore Resort, scheduled to open in the summer of 2015.

“For this year’s event, we are thrilled to welcome our first ever Diamond Sponsor, Covenant Health,” said Debbie Dowling, executive director of the Thomas Foundation. “As a special touch this year, Tony Spezia, Covenant’s president and CEO, will pay tribute to the history of the Evening of Elegance and our generous community during a champagne toast at the ball.”

A portion of the proceeds from the 2014 Evening of Elegance will benefit the Fort Sanders Sevier Nursing Home. Funds will be used to refurbish and renovate the facility for senior residents. During the live auction, guests will have a unique “fund the cause” opportunity to raise their bid cards for new recliners to be placed in the family room at the nursing home.

Named in his honor, the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organization established in 1983 to help expand the range and quality of health care services available in Sevier County. According to the website, "Dr. Robert F. Thomas came to Sevier County in 1926 to serve in the dual role of minister and family physician. He quickly earned the respect of the people whose bodies and souls he tended. Traveling the rugged terrain by foot, jeep, and horseback, "the Doc" made as many as 1,000 house calls each year. Dr. Thomas established clinics, immunized hundreds of adults and children, set broken bones, and delivered countless babies. His patients received the medical care they needed without having to travel long distances away from their homes and their loved ones. "

“This is truly a special event that makes a substantial impact locally each and every year,” said David Bobo, Sevierville Convention Center Director. “We are honored to serve as host and look forward to a fun and exciting Saturday night.”

A limited number of tickets remain for the event. For more information, contact the Thomas Foundation at (865) 446-9628 or email Amy Woods at awoods5@covhlth.com.

The Sevierville Convention Center is located just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in the foothills of East Tennessee and only minutes from Interstate 40. The 200,000 square foot facility caters to events of all sizes, including sporting events, trade and retail shows, meeting conventions, retreats, seminars, banquets, receptions and holiday parties. For more information, visit www.seviervilleconventioncenter.com.