Overlake’s 2015 Bandage Ball Surpasses Fundraising Goal

Bellevue, Wash. – More than 700 people crowded into the Bellevue Hyatt’s Grand Ballroom over the weekend to attend Overlake Medical Center’s 2015 Bandage Ball gala and auction. The event, which took place Saturday, March 21, 2015 raised $996,000 to ensure people on the Eastside with mental illness can get fast and effective treatment. Overlake is the only hospital on the Eastside to provide a full continuum of mental health services for adults, including inpatient mental health services.

“We would like to thank everyone who came out and made this year’s Bandage Ball a huge success,” said Molly Stearns, Overlake’s chief development officer. “We are eternally grateful for the continuing support of this generous community and are committed to treating the very real issue of mental illness on the Eastside.”

Funds raised this year are going directly to strengthen and expand Overlake’s mental health services. Specifically, donations will go toward supporting Overlake in more fully integrating psychiatric services with primary care and expanding the medical center’s community mental health education programming. 

Dr. Kelan Koenig, medical director for psychiatric services at Overlake, delivered remarks at the event. “Thank you for helping to raise our awareness about how common and painful psychiatric conditions can be,” he said. “We all can help Overlake provide the critical and timely treatment, the care and support that so many in our community need.”

This year’s event featured dinner, a raffle, a wine toss and a live auction hosted by auctioneer Mark Schenfeld from Stokes Auction Group. Emceed by local media personality and Puget Sound Business Journal columnist Patti Payne, the Bandage Ball is the largest fundraising event of the year for Overlake Medical Center.