WESTFIELD - Just before the 51st Baystate Noble Ball happened on Oct. 17 last year, Baystate Health acquired Noble Hospital of Westfield.
As Baystate already had affiliations with Wing Memorial in Palmer, Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield and Mary Lane Hospital in Ware, the addition of Noble only makes sense.
Kathy Tobin, Director of Annual Giving & Events at Baystate Health Foundation, in her office on June 16, 2016.
“That was a really important affiliation for Noble Hospital,” said Kathy Tobin, Director of Annual Giving and Events at the Baystate Health Foundation. “It allows Baystate Noble Hospital to continue to stay in the community.”
The emergence has also allowed a very strong and special tradition to continue to grow in the Community of Westfield. The 52nd annual Noble Ball will happen in the fall, as the event has had tremendous success growing over the recent years.
At last year’s 51st Noble Ball, the MassMutual Center in Springfield was host to roughly 700 attendees. Tobin is hopeful for the success this year as the community is the most important aspect to the event.
“We’re hoping that it’s going to be bigger and better than ever because the Westfield community supports it so well and they deserve that,” said Tobin.
At the MassMutual Center this fall, the Salehi and Hannoush families will be the co-chairs for the committee. Ali Salehi is the President of Columbia Manufacturing in Westfield and Nabil and Julie Hannoush own the Shortstop Bar & Grill, Expert Fitness Health Club and Extra Innings Westfield.
Both families are great representatives for this year’s ball. In the past, they have worked with Baystate Health Foundation on several committees, and have supported and attended the Noble Ball.
“It’s a charity that’s near and dear to their hearts and they are leaders in the Westfield community,” said Tobin.
With the ball being a long-held tradition, this year’s theme is a throwback to the 1970’s. The “sensational 70’s,” as it is titled, will hope to bring back the feel of dancing and partying the night away. There will also be a red carpet just outside the ballroom featuring special guests who will put on a performance. Also performing will be a live band, and numerous disc jockeys along with silent and live auctions that are planned for the night with great prizes as well.
Perhaps the most important part to the special evening will be the fundraising.
“It’s a fundraiser and the reality is that we need to raise money to help support keeping care local,” said Tobin.
This year’s fundraising will go towards renovating the main entrance of Baystate Noble Hospital. The project will allow the establishment to become more accessible to everyone in the community of Westfield.
“We look forward to being able to start that project very soon,” said Tobin. “The funds raised from this ball will allow us to launch into that construction project.”
The merger of Baystate Health and Noble Hospital will allow the Noble Ball to have the chance to be stronger than ever.
“I very much want this to be a success so that Baystate Noble Hospital can continue to do the great work it does,” said Tobin. “We’re going to throw a great party and we’re going to ensure that Baystate Noble Hospital is successful for years to come.”
