Dinner by Starlight

Join us on Friday, November 4, 2022, at the newly renovated Americus Hotel in downtown Allentown for our 21^st Annual Dinner by Starlight! The event kicks off at 6:30 PM ET. We are excited to be gathering in person again after two years of hosting the event virtually.

This year’s event is possible thanks to the generous support of our Premier Sponsor, BSI Corporate Benefits; Cosmic Sponsor, GOLD Credit Union; and Presenting Sponsors, Lexus of Lehigh Valley and The Topper Foundation. 

Sponsorships are still available, and members of the community are invited to attend and support the event. To register, please visit sluhn.org/dinnerbystarlight.

This signature fundraising event for the St. Luke’s Allentown Campus provides a special opportunity to recognize members of the community who make a difference through their gifts of time, talent, and treasure. 

Our 2022 Honorary Star is Dr. Kathryn C. Worrilow and The LifeAire Team. In 2017, LifeAire designed and installed a transformational air purification system, serving 16 patient rooms on the fifth floor of St. Luke's Allentown Campus. This advanced technology sterilizes the air flowing through the HVAC system, removing or neutralizing all pathogens–including COVID-19–that might otherwise infect patients recovering on the unit from illness or surgery.

A second system was later installed to purify air inflow to the remaining rooms of the unit. The measurable clinical benefits of the air purification system include reducing a patient’s length of stay, making hospitalizations 23% less costly. St. Luke's Allentown Campus is thankful to have industry partners like LifeAire to help advance the already safe and exceptional care we provide to our patients.

We will also recognize our two Shining Stars at the event this year.

Jennifer Garcia, Security Coordinator at St. Luke’s Allentown Campus stands out as a stellar employee.  Jennifer takes on any challenge with a positive attitude and concern for patient satisfaction and customer service. She puts others first and is always there for her team members as a mentor, leader, and friend. The Allentown campus is proud to recognize Jennifer as a Shining Star.

Ed and Shahnaz Hanna, owners Union and Finch–a beloved Allentown restaurant–strive to give back to the community they love so much. They partner with the Allentown School District and other non-profit organizations like Camelot for Children to provide resources for our local homeless and underserved youth. During the pandemic, Union and Finch adapted their operation to remain open and keep their staff employed while helping their Allentown neighbors with food donations.

Proceeds from the event will help fund the construction of a new Mother & Baby Tower at the St. Luke’s Allentown Campus. This expansion will allow the St. Luke’s team to increase access to care, meeting the needs of the city and surrounding neighborhoods. 

The new unit will enable up to 3,000 deliveries per year and will include a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU will help keep babies born prematurely or with critical needs close to their families in Allentown.

Patients will have access to prenatal education, lactation support, and behavioral health resources on-site through the St. Luke’s Baby and Me program. This investment in the Allentown community will ensure patients continue to receive the highest quality services from a world-class leader in health care–now in a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility.

Dinner by Starlight sponsors recognize the value of investing in this project and the benefit it will have for our entire Allentown community.

Tony DaRe, chief executive officer of BSI Corporate Benefits, Premier Sponsor, said his organization shares St. Luke’s commitment to the City of Allentown.

“BSI is honored to continue our commitment to the investment in this project for the City of Allentown.  Knowing that proceeds from the Dinner by Starlight event have such a powerful impact year over year, ensuring that our community will continue to receive world-class healthcare makes us extremely proud of our continued partnership with St. Luke’s.”

Jenn Gora, chief communications officer for Cosmic Sponsor GOLD Credit Union, echoed those sentiments. “GOLD’s partnership with St. Luke’s is extremely important to us and we are proud to sponsor Dinner by Starlight for the third year.  St. Luke’s efforts in providing safety and wellness go above and beyond and GOLD will continue to support them in their commitment to building a stronger community.  Congratulations to all those recognized this year for your incredible contributions and thank you to the St. Luke’s staff for your continuing dedication to the people of the Lehigh Valley.”

Peter and Karen Cooper of Presenting Sponsor - Lexus of Lehigh Valley, are also deeply committed to ensuring the best care is available for those in the region.  Dinner by Starlight provides a wonderful opportunity to help ensure our family, friends and neighbors receive the highest level of care,” they said.  “Lexus is a brand synonymous with excellence and we are proud to lend our support to St. Luke’s Allentown, a hospital committed to excellence in health care.”

For more information about supporting Dinner by Starlight, please contact Lori Coursen at Lori.Coursen@sluhn.org.