AAMC’s second annual Denim & Diamonds was a resounding success. Guests dressed in various forms of denim and bling represented the community’s support for one of our most urgent care needs. On April 29, 2017, more than 1,100 people attended this special event under the stars to shed light on the crucial need for mental health services in this region.
Thanks to the efforts of a talented committee and under the leadership of co-chairs Al and Cathy Adelman, Jerry and Lori Collier, and Rich and Theresa Gergar, nearly $1 million was raised during this special event. These much needed funds will help to improve the lives of thousands of patients in our community by supporting mental health programs and services.
Jerry Collier, Senior Vice President at M&T Bank and AAMC Foundation Board member, shares his passion and commitment to making AAMC’s Denim & Diamonds Bash such an impactful occasion.
“I joined AAMC’s Foundation Board in 2013 as I believed then, and know now, that AAMC directly touches more folks and has a larger positive macro impact on our great community as compared to other health, human and social service not for profits,” says Jerry.
“When the leadership of AAMC asked my wife Lori and I to chair Denim & Diamonds 2017, we gladly accepted based upon our desire to raise awareness of, and increase funding for, mental health. At each of our monthly Denim & Diamonds Bash Committee meetings our first meeting agenda item was our “mission moment” where clinicians and other caregivers shared the challenge of significant resource constraints to address the overwhelming demand for mental health care in our community,” Jerry says. “With each “mission moment,” the Committee became increasingly resolved to make Denim & Diamonds this region’s biggest and best event so that we could raise the funds so greatly needed to expand mental health care. The outpouring of support from sponsors and guests for the event has been nothing short of extraordinary.”
The Denim & Diamonds Bash could not have been a success without our 102 sponsors, including presenting Platinum co-sponsors the Chesapeake Bayhawks and M&T Bank, and Diamond sponsors Aerotek, AAMC Medical Staff, BB&T, Comcast, Homestead Gardens, Ken’s Creative Kitchen, TEKsystems, What’s Up? Magazine and WRNR-103.1.
We are also grateful for our media sponsors, Capital Gazette Communications, Inc., Eye on Annapolis, Liquified Creative, LLC, Annapolis Home Magazine, and 1430 WNAV.
Don’t miss next year’s party with a purpose! Tickets sold out almost a month before this year’s event, so be sure to save the date for AAMC Foundation’s Denim & Diamonds Spring Bash, Saturday April 28, 2018.
For more information about getting involved with AAMC Foundation’s Bash, please contact Kendra Smith Houghton at 443-481-4739 or khoughton@AAHS.org.
