29th Annual Pearl Ball

Good Samaritan Foundation, with event chairs Courtney Toomey, M.D. and Bill Toomey, will host the 29th annual Pearl Ball on Feb. 23, 7 p.m. at the River Oaks Country Club. Themed “Space City,” this year’s astronomical event features live music by the Doppelganger Band and remarks by Mark Barr, Good Samaritan’s 2016 Excellence in Nursing Gold Medalist.

Founded in 1951, Good Samaritan Foundation is dedicated to nurses and the nursing profession. The Pearl Ball, held each year since 1989, is the organization’s biggest annual event Proceeds from the event help maintain one of the state’s largest private scholarship
programs for student nurses. The organization also provides grants to colleges of nursing for graduate research and faculty development; supports mentor programs designed to better prepare new nurses for the challenges of patient care; and recognizes and rewards nurses who exemplify the finest qualities of the profession at its annual Excellence in Nursing Luncheon.

Barr, a charge nurse in the Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Ben Taub General Hospital, received the 2016 Gold Medal for clinical practice in a large hospital at the 12th annual lunch in September. In addition to his nursing career, Barr is a four-time national paratriathlon champion and received the silver medal at the Paralympic World Championships. He will speak about how his experience as an amputee called him to the nursing profession.