The Open Arms Free Clinic, the first and only free medical clinic in Walworth County, will celebrate its fourth birthday Dec. 2 with a gala dinner featuring an evening of gratitude to commemorate treating its first patient at the free clinic in December 2012.
The event emcee will be Kate Chappell, a morning news anchor at CBS 58 in Milwaukee who is on TV weekdays from 4:30 to 7 a.m. Chappell grew up in Walworth County and graduated from Big Foot High School. She went on to study journalism and political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining CBS 58, Chappell worked in South Bend, Indiana as a morning anchor and reporter.
Chappell said she is happy to be back in her home state “covering stories that matter.” She also said she enjoys getting back to the Lake Geneva area to see her family, who still lives there, whenever possible.
Honorary chairs for the celebration are the local champions who have received countless awards throughout the years for their generous gifts of leadership and community service.
Karla and Brent Tildahl have been loyal volunteers with Open Arms Free Clinic from when it was just an idea in 2011. Karla Tildahl serves as the nurse manager at the clinic and is responsible for the orientation and scheduling of all volunteer nurses.
“The people that I work with are a joy. I come to the clinic each day and feel better myself, just being here,” she said.
Brent Tildahl is the clinic keeper manager and is responsible for the weekly housekeeping at the clinic. He and his volunteer crew ensure the clinic is a clean and hospitable place ready to welcome each person who walks through the doors.
The Tildahls said they believe the clinic “is a real asset to Walworth County” and are proud to be part of the organization, according to a press release about the event.
The fourth annual Birthday Gala Dinner is entitled, “An Emerald Affair for Compassionate Care” inspired by the Tildahl’s 55th wedding anniversary, also to celebrated in December.
Organizers of the annual charity event expect 450 guests, according to the release, and expressed gratitude for the generous contributions by the following: Flagship Sponsors Alder Scherer, LLC and Mercy Health Care, and Emerald Sponsors Aurora Health Care, BMO Harris Bank, and Gretchen Geist and Brad Meyers.
“As a private non-profit, our work is supported totally by donations and grants. In supporting us through individual, corporate, and event-based giving, the community is also supporting the countless volunteer hours provided us by local doctors, dentists and other medical professionals who have selflessly served over 2,000 patients in our four short years,” Open Arms Executive Director, Sara Nichols, said.
Tickets for the event, being hosted by staff at The Abbey Resort and Spa, 269 Fontana Blvd., in Fontana, are $50 and can be purchased online at www.openarmsfreeclinic.org.
