Jane Arnold
Jane Arnold
What she does: Manage all the fund-raising events for St. Vincent's HealthCare Foundation
For how many years? Six
How big is the staff? The foundation's staff of 11 includes two in the special events office
Event planning experience: 20 years
Biggest job challenge: Ensuring details when coordinating multiple and overlapping events
Favorite hobbies/activities: Entertaining, golf, and traveling
Favorite part of an event: The event itself, when everything comes together
Pet peeves: Getting people to return phone calls
Get event ideas from? Talking to volunteers and talking to event planners in other cities, and on the InternetHow many events per year do you plan for the development department?
There are five fund-raising events: the Red Rose Ball in February; the Murray Bros. Caddyshack Golf Tournament in April; Delicious Destinations: A Gourmet Food and Wine Tasting in September; Physicians Giving Society Golf Tournament in October; and the Charity Fun shoot in December.
What are the biggest events you organize?
The Red Rose Ball is a black-tie gala for more than 500 guests. Delicious Destinations is made up of four separate events—the main event has more than 500 people attending; more than 1,000 attend all four events.
How soon do you start planning an event?
Due to the number and size of our events, we begin planning each event at least a year in advance.
What trends or themes have become popular in your area to use at events?
In Jacksonville, our donors and friends enjoy events that are fun and different. Although there are a number of formal events, most enjoy casual events, such as wine and food tastings, celebrity golf tournaments, and events for the whole family. Themes include Latin America, Provence, Fire and Ice, and James Bond.
Describe your most challenging event.
A very challenging but fun event, Delicious Destinations is made up of multiple venues—an exclusive wine dinner, a Celebrity Chef by the Sea luncheon, a sponsors' private reception with the chefs. More than 500 guests attend the main Delicious Destinations event, which features nationally known chefs from four- and five-star resorts. A total of more than 1,000 guests attend these events within a three- to four-day period.
How do you secure sponsors for a gala or fund-raiser?
A committee of volunteers makes personal contacts to past sponsors and to new corporations and individuals. We also provide a package to offer corporations and individuals the opportunity to sponsor multiple events, which eliminates contacting them several times a year for each individual event.
What are your goals for each of the events?
To raise funds for the many programs at St. Vincent's that provide medical access to the underserved in North Florida communities.
How do budgets affect your job when planning events?
Strict attention is paid to the budget for each event. The goal is to secure underwriting for events through financial contributions and sponsorships, and in-kind donations with minimal expenses (maintaining a 25 percent expense ratio).
How have events changed in the health-care industry?
Events have become larger, more creative, and more sophisticated to cultivate new donors.
What's your favorite of the events you've planned for the development department?
Delicious Destinations has been a great opportunity to work with many incredible executive chefs, such as former White House executive chef Walter Scheib, and internationally known executive chef Paul Prudhomme, and many premier chefs from four- and five-star resorts throughout the country. This year, executive chef Neil Connolly of Doc's Restaurant in Orlando—former personal chef to Rose Kennedy—will be our featured chef at the Celebrity Chef by the Sea Luncheon on September 4 at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.
For how many years? Six
How big is the staff? The foundation's staff of 11 includes two in the special events office
Event planning experience: 20 years
Biggest job challenge: Ensuring details when coordinating multiple and overlapping events
Favorite hobbies/activities: Entertaining, golf, and traveling
Favorite part of an event: The event itself, when everything comes together
Pet peeves: Getting people to return phone calls
Get event ideas from? Talking to volunteers and talking to event planners in other cities, and on the InternetHow many events per year do you plan for the development department?
There are five fund-raising events: the Red Rose Ball in February; the Murray Bros. Caddyshack Golf Tournament in April; Delicious Destinations: A Gourmet Food and Wine Tasting in September; Physicians Giving Society Golf Tournament in October; and the Charity Fun shoot in December.
What are the biggest events you organize?
The Red Rose Ball is a black-tie gala for more than 500 guests. Delicious Destinations is made up of four separate events—the main event has more than 500 people attending; more than 1,000 attend all four events.
How soon do you start planning an event?
Due to the number and size of our events, we begin planning each event at least a year in advance.
What trends or themes have become popular in your area to use at events?
In Jacksonville, our donors and friends enjoy events that are fun and different. Although there are a number of formal events, most enjoy casual events, such as wine and food tastings, celebrity golf tournaments, and events for the whole family. Themes include Latin America, Provence, Fire and Ice, and James Bond.
Describe your most challenging event.
A very challenging but fun event, Delicious Destinations is made up of multiple venues—an exclusive wine dinner, a Celebrity Chef by the Sea luncheon, a sponsors' private reception with the chefs. More than 500 guests attend the main Delicious Destinations event, which features nationally known chefs from four- and five-star resorts. A total of more than 1,000 guests attend these events within a three- to four-day period.
How do you secure sponsors for a gala or fund-raiser?
A committee of volunteers makes personal contacts to past sponsors and to new corporations and individuals. We also provide a package to offer corporations and individuals the opportunity to sponsor multiple events, which eliminates contacting them several times a year for each individual event.
What are your goals for each of the events?
To raise funds for the many programs at St. Vincent's that provide medical access to the underserved in North Florida communities.
How do budgets affect your job when planning events?
Strict attention is paid to the budget for each event. The goal is to secure underwriting for events through financial contributions and sponsorships, and in-kind donations with minimal expenses (maintaining a 25 percent expense ratio).
How have events changed in the health-care industry?
Events have become larger, more creative, and more sophisticated to cultivate new donors.
What's your favorite of the events you've planned for the development department?
Delicious Destinations has been a great opportunity to work with many incredible executive chefs, such as former White House executive chef Walter Scheib, and internationally known executive chef Paul Prudhomme, and many premier chefs from four- and five-star resorts throughout the country. This year, executive chef Neil Connolly of Doc's Restaurant in Orlando—former personal chef to Rose Kennedy—will be our featured chef at the Celebrity Chef by the Sea Luncheon on September 4 at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.
