St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation Heroes Ball

An artful array of diversions awaited guests arriving at the Heroes Ball, an annual black-tie benefit for the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation, this year raising $1.1 million to fund five professional positions in the hospital’s integrated mental health program, a priority of event chairpersons Heather and Bennett Barrow. The nearly 600 supporters could pick up cocktails through a colorful xylophone wall, pose for kaleidoscope photos, play pinball and paint a giant gala logo now displayed in the hospital, a symbol of their collective impact. The highlight of the playful party: honoring 2023 Community Hero Mike Evans, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver known, along with his wife Ashli, for mentoring and uplifting kids and families going through difficult times by providing food, books, scholarships and other support. The Haute Chile band kept the dance floor rocking April 22 at the Hilton Tampa Downtown. — Amy Scherzer,