Golden Gala
Journey Rocks TMH Gala
A sold-out crowd helped us celebrate the 40th anniversary of the TMH Gala with Journey on March 19, 2024. Proceeds from the 2024 event benefitted Tallahassee Memorial’s Emergency Services, specifically, the Bixler Trauma and Emergency Center.
Located on TMH’s main campus, the center is the only Level II Trauma Center in the Big Bend region. Collectively, TMH recorded more than 135,000 Emergency and Urgent Care Center visits to its two Urgent Care Centers and two Emergency Centers last year.
Plans are underway for Gala 2025. If you’d like to be one of the first to know who the band is and when table sales are live, sign up for our advanced notice list.
Hosted by the TMH Foundation, the gala advances TMH’s mission of transforming care, advancing health, and improving lives. Proceeds from the 2024 event will benefit Tallahassee Memorial’s Emergency Services, specifically, the Bixler Trauma and Emergency Center.
Located on TMH’s main campus, the center is the only Level II Trauma Center in the Big Bend region. Collectively, TMH recorded more than 135,000 Emergency and Urgent Care Center visits to its two Urgent Care Centers and two Emergency Centers last year.
Last year’s gala was a sell-out, so it is highly recommended that you secure your table as quickly as possible.
About Golden Gala
Golden Gala dates back to 1984, when a group of dedicated and energetic individuals – lead by the late M.T. Mustian, then President and CEO of TMH, Grace Dansby, Jean McCully, Eleanor Smith and Marcia Thornberry – introduced the “Gala” fundraising concept within the community. This was after considerable deliberation and discussion, and finally, according to Mrs. Dansby, Mr. Mustian said, “We are either going to do it or we are going to quit talking about it.”
And do it, they did. The vision was daunting at the time. “We knew this had to be something different. First class all the way,” said Mrs. Dansby. With that, Mrs. Dansby designed – on the proverbial napkin – the legendary GG logo.
Marcia Thornberry remembers, “We had an army of volunteers who gave hundreds of hours. The TMH Auxiliary organization and the Gala Volunteer Committee went above and beyond the call-of-duty. Within a two-day period, the Civic Center arena became a breathtakingly elegant dining room.” Jean McCully led the transformation where 3,500 yellow mums filled the walkway in the Civic Center arena. Mrs. McCully noted, “The Civic Center really opened its heart and its doors to the TMH family. It was a small beginning to the Golden Gala we celebrate today, but it proved to TMH that it had the Tallahassee community behind it.”
The inaugural gala – starring Barbara Mandrell – was the first of many galas that would benefit from Eleanor Smith’s expertise and leadership. Mrs. Smith said, “No one thought that the first Golden Gala would raise any money. However, everyone pitched in and made it work. Barbara Mandrell dazzled the audience. But, it was the children who would later be patients in TMH’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – many of who are now grown and with children of their own – who benefitted the most from that glorious evening.”
Tallahassee Memorial continues to salute and thank all of those in the Golden Gala vanguard and those who have continued to maintain its vibrancy and relevancy as Tallahassee’s premier social and charitable event.
Over its distinguished history from 1984 until today, Golden Gala has generated millions of dollars that have been applied toward a wide variety of programs and services benefiting our community.
Past Entertainers
2023 - Keith Urban
2022 - OneRepublic
2019 – Pentatonix
2018 – Hall & Oates
2017 – Brad Paisley
2016 – James Taylor
2015 – John Legend
2014 – Lady Antebellum
2013 – Maroon 5
2012 – Keith Urban
2011 – Harry Connick Jr
2010 – Sheryl Crow
2009 – Earth Wind & Fire
2008 – Chicago
2007 – Leanne Womack
2006 – Glenn Frey
2005 – Kenny Loggins
2004 – Michael Bolton
2003 – Tony Bennett
2002 – Barry Manilow
2001 – Pointer Sisters
2000 – 50s Music
1999 – Wynona Judd
1998 – Gladys Knight
1997 – Natalie Cole
1996 – Danny Gans
1995 – Barbara Mandrell
1994 – Bernadette Peters
1993 – Anne Murray/Danny Gans
1992 – Johnny Mathis
1991 – Paul Anka
1990 – Warwick/Bacharach
1989 – Oak Ridge Boys
1988 – Wayne Newton
1987 – John Denver
1986 – Donny & Marie Osmond
1985 – Glenn Campbell
1984 – Barbara Mandrell
