Sarah Bush Lincoln will raise money for scholarships to support healthcare education with funds raised during their 31st annual La Grande Soiree 5:30 p.m Saturday at the Keller Convention Center in Effingham.

Last year, more than 200 people attended the event, where they raised more than $21,000 for scholarships.

The Sarah Bush Lincoln Guild has awarded more than $500,000 since 1979 for students in the 19-county area who are studying to work in the medical field.

Scholarships are awarded to students attending school based on their academic achievements, financial needs and availability of funds to those working in fields such as nursing, medical technology, radiology, physical therapy, and other related fields.

Kim Lockart, event officer for Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundation, said it is important to Sarah Bush as a healthcare facility to make the connection with students who understand the value of rural healthcare.

“With rural communities getting smaller and smaller, sometimes it can be difficult to attract medical professionals to smaller areas,” she said. “Fortunately we haven’t had that problem, but it is important to make that connection.”

Several scholarship recipients have returned to work at Sarah Bush.

The Guild hopes to raise $18,000 at this event.

“We’re definitely on track to raise at least that much,” Kim Lockart said.

The Volunteer Guild Scholarship program is funded by several other events throughout the year, but the Soiree is the biggest fundraiser.

Tickets to the event are $75 and include a formal sit-down dinner, a social hour, dancing, live music and a champagne and ice event. All proceeds go to the scholarship fund.

Entertainment will be provided by Downtime, a big band from St. Louis, who is returning to the event for their fifth year.

Town Square Jewelers donates a piece of jewelry to the event every year. This year, they donated earrings. The earrings will be raffled off at the end of the night. Glasses of champagne are sold throughout the night. Each glass will have a wine tag on the stem with a number on it and at the end of the night the winning number will be drawn.

 “We have a lot of people who don’t understand that it is open to the community, it’s not invitation only. Anyone can come and anyone is welcome to come,” Lockart said. “It’s a lot of fun; it’s an opportunity to have a really good meal and dance while giving back to a great cause.”

Kendra Cwikla can be reached at 581-2812 or kecwikla@eiu.edu.