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SANDPOINT — From its days at Farragut Naval Station to its move over Lake Pend Oreille to its Sandpoint location, Bonner General Health’s mission hasn’t changed — delivering the best health care around to the community.

That's why events such as Saturday's Heart Ball — being held virtually this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic — are so important. They're a critical fundraising tool used to keep the hospital and its technology up to date and top-notch.

The Heart Ball came to fruition in 2008 when then-board president Howard Simmons recognized the importance of raising funds to do just that — keep up with technological advance in health care. At the same time Simmons wanted something fun for the community as it raised funds for the hospital.

"The Heart Ball is a fun way to get the word out about our hometown hospital," said Georgia Simmons, BGH Foundation trustee and the event's chairperson. "That’s been very important to us. It’s also a time to be able to celebrate the people who have absolutely always [been there] for the hospital and given."

Named due to its proximity to Valentine's Day and because of its connection to the hospital, the event offers a great dinner, a chance to dress up, and dance and bid on some pretty cool auction items. Another favorite part of the event is the dessert auction, where participants have a chance to bid on the decadent and delicious desserts from local restaurants and gourmet dessert connoisseurs.

"Everybody gets to raise their paddle to be able to support some equipment or some renovations or technology that the hospital needs for the coming year," Georgia Simmons said of the event, now marking its 13th year. "And so, it's really been successful and grown a lot."

While the event has always been an in-person, that wasn't possible due to the global pandemic. Simmons said the board talked about whether the Heart Ball should be postponed, held virtually or some other others as they search for the best way forward. In the end, it was decided a live event wasn't possible.

"We did have a conversation about that, saying, you know, 'What is the best way to do this?'," she said. "But again, I think, you know, the pandemic and all the frontline workers here at the hospital have been through a lot and they've put in a lot of time and energy. And again, our donors, there's just no way we could expose them to that. So there was a thought to postpone it and just go live again next year but the opportunity came about that we could be able to do this virtually."

Once they made the decision to hold the event virtually, the foundation board didn't look back, working to incorporate many of the touches that make the Heart Ball so special.

"Actually this is going to be really fun," she said. "The whole board voted on going virtual and to find a way to be able to get it out to the community, maybe bring more of the community in and have an event that is done online."

That means the dessert auction was a must, as were great packages to be auctioned off. Information about hospital programs and services as well as videos on community members who have benefited from BGH services and an update on the hospital's renovation of its Emergency Department — the recipient of funds raised by the event.

"The Emergency Department really needs a remodel and really needs some new equipment and technology and this gives us an opportunity [to do that," Simmons said. "It hasn't been touched in many years so this is the face of the hospital and we are going to make sure it gets upgraded and gets the full support."

As soon as the decision was made to hold the event virtually, Erin Binnall said the foundation began publicizing the event and inviting the community to take part in the virtual event as well as working to make the event extra special.

As part of that, there will be "really intimate stories from community members whose lives have been changed for the positive because we have a hospital here," said Binnall, community development manager/public information officer for Bonner General Health and the foundation.

Among them are longtime emeritus board member Jack Parker, who has been a part of the hospital for over 50 years, dating back to when the first hospital building made its way from Farragut. And there will be stories from those whose lives or those of family members were saved because of the local hospital.

"If they would have had have to take the time to drive 45 minutes south or hour and a half south, their whole life would be a lot different than it is right now," Binnall said. "So we'll be able to hear those types of stories. It gives our community an opportunity to show their support."

The event promises to be just as fun and just as amazing as past live events, Binnall said.

"So I think it will be a really good event to where you know your money is going … and it will feel really good that you're doing it, that it's not just for you but it's for our entire community," she added.

The Heart Ball is open to everyone — joining is as easy as logging onto the hospital website at bonnergeneral.org and clicking on the Heart Ball link on the homepage to RSVP. From there, you'll be guided through registration, how to set up a Zoom account and how to register on Greater Giving so you can take part in the auction.

"And if you can't attend the event, then you can also donate at the same address, bonnergeneral.org," said Molly Rickard.

The foundation accepts contributions from individuals, corporations, and other organizations. All donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law and donors can request their gift be used for a specific purpose or placed in an unrestricted account and used wherever the need is greatest.

At Bonner General Health, the hospital has its community development department which sets aside funds to sponsor and partner with organizations and programs that fit under its community health needs assessment. The foundation's vision is really to be a trustworthy steward of resources and goodwill that allows the hospital to provide the community with the highest quality health care.

"The foundation supports the hospital and endeavors to really enhance the quality of the life for those who entrust their care with Bonner General," Binnall said. "It's raised over a million dollars since 2008. We're really proud of it."

While the Heart Ball is the foundation's biggest fundraiser, additional funds come from letter campaigns and donations from patients and their families.

To help meet those goals, there is a focus on relationships — which has led to the hospital's stellar reputation as a "true community partner and the health hub of a small town," Binnall said.

She pointed to the hospital's 12 clinics — from performance therapy services, ear, nose and throat and immediate care to ophthalmology to Sandpoint's Women's Health and more. All told, the hospital serves thousands of people a year from Bonner and Boundary counties as well as into Montana and the surrounding areas.

Often, people don't realize the hospital and foundation do as much as they do, or the variety and quality of services offered.

"We do have excellent health care and we do live in a community where everybody gives," Simmons said. "A community that really, really cares and we have excellent health care that needs to be supported. But you don't know what you don't know."

And that's why events like the Heart Ball are so important, Simmons, Binnall and Rickard said. They raise awareness of the hometown hospital and all that it means to the community.

"We live in a pristine beautiful area with all kinds of outdoor activities both winter and summer," Simmons said. "But what do families care about when they move into a community, they want to know that their kids are going to be educated and they want to know they have excellent health care close to home, again, and more affordable. So it's exciting for us to continually to get that message out there and it takes a long time to get the message out there of all the things we actually offer."

This year, funds from the Heart Ball will align with a $200,000 grant from the Sunderland Foundation to help an ongoing remodel of the hospital's Emergency Department — last updated in the early 1980s. When the project is completed — estimated to be around Feb. 22 — there will be ergonomic workstations, improved patient flow, updated technology and more patient privacy.

Another part of the remodel is the addition of a donor wall — which allows the hospital to thank major donors who have contributed $5,000 or more. While the design is still a work in progress, Rickard said it will be as much of a work of art as a way to honor the project's donors.

As a board member, Simmons said she is amazed by how the hospital and its entire staff has responded to the challenges posed by the pandemic.

"The time, the energy, that they've given and that they continue to give and I personally feel very safe and happy to live here with the kind of care that we have," she said. "We just need to keep it going and we need to keep it healthy and we need to keep raising funds for, again, our hometown hospital. We need to support it because it supports us."

Binnall said she and the rest of the hospital and foundation staffs are grateful for the support they received from their friends and neighbors in the community.

"I just want to thank our community for continuing to trust us with your health care," she said. "Invest in us because we are 100 percent invested in our community."

For information on the Heart Ball, slated for Feb. 6 from 6-7 p.m., go online to bonnergeneral.org to receive updates on desserts, auction items and giveaways.

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.