On the Cover

Lift your mint julep and sweet tea in a toast on Friday, April 1 at the New Orleans Fair Grounds, as Children’s Hospital celebrates “The Sugarplum Stakes,” the 30th anniversary of its Sugarplum Ball.

Three decades ago, attendees helped the hospital fund its first ground intensive transport care team in tandem with the opening of the hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. This year, the hospital hopes that the ball will help them round the bend and take off by putting the intensive care transport team in the air – as proceeds will help the hospital purchase its own medical transport helicopter.

While there, tip your hat to David Haydel Sr., a generous donor and friend of the hospital for decades, who will reign as this year’s honoree.

Co-chairs (or co-jockeys) Julie Habetz and Amanda Lo, along with their committee, have gathered some of the best restaurants in New Orleans to showcase their winning dishes.

Children’s Hospital is the only full-service hospital exclusively for children in Louisiana and the Gulf South. Help them race to our region’s gravely ill children faster than ever so that they continue to save lives, as they did for Michael Gray when he was just 4.

30th annual Sugarplum Ball, “The Sugarplum Stakes,” Friday, April 1, 7:30-11:30 p.m., at the New Orleans Fair Grounds. For more information and tickets, please call 896-9373, visit chnola.com or email kleaumon@chnola.org.

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