Less than three weeks remain until one of the most anticipated events of the year for the Tomball area community. The E.C.H.O. Foundation’s Seventh Annual Gala, “Footloose and Fancy Free,” is set for April 10, 2010 and will feature Grammy Award-winning artist Kenny Loggins. The gala will return to The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, with all proceeds designated toward enriching patient safety at Tomball Regional Medical Center.

The event will be emceed by KPRC Local 2 anchor Rachel McNeill and AM 740 KTRH’s Darby Douglas. McNeill is a hometown girl, having grown up at Tomball’s back door. She spent many days volunteering with her father, Dr. Roger McNeill, who has an Ear, Nose and Throat practice in Tomball. Douglas is a native Houstonian, best known for his 13 years as the traffic anchor on KHOU Channel 11’s morning show.  Darby has been in television/radio in Houston for more than 25 years and is currently a traffic anchor at AM 740 KTRH.

Pictured, a vacation package at this villa in Puerto Vallarta will be one of the items up for bid at the E.C.H.O. Gala.

Through donations there will be many silent and live auction items at the gala. For the live auction Thomas Markle has donated an 18k white gold necklace with .30 carats of diamonds surrounding a marquise shaped black onyx. Hunt Trip in Spain has donated a five-day hunt for one hunter and one non-hunter with Francisco Rosich in “Mollevi.” Hunt Trip Spain’s private hunting estate is located in the northeast portion of the country.  Judith Ripka Inc., a multi-million dollar jewelry business headquartered in New York City, donated a Heart Prong Canary Crystal ring for the live auction.

Beside the live auction, the silent auction also has a lot to offer, as well. Up for bid will be golf packages from local courses, vineyard tours and gift certificates to local restaurants, as well as entertainment packages. James Avery Jewelry has donated a Camino Real Cuff Bracelet. There will be packages to Disney as well as casino’s, autographed sports memorabilia and more.

Following the live auction, the evening’s entertainment will be provided by Loggins, whose hits include “Danger Zone,” from the Tom Cruise film Top Gun and “Footloose,” from the movie of the same title, starring Kevin Bacon.

The E.C.H.O. Foundation was created in 1996 to advance the philanthropic and charitable contributions for improving healthcare services and programs at Tomball Regional Medical Center. Funds raised by the Foundation are used to further the hospital’s mission as a non-profit organization. The E.C.H.O. Foundation and Tomball Regional Medical Center are dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of Northwest Houston.

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