Following the Mozart, Merlot and Mums fundraising event on Saturday, October 10, at Edmond Town Hall for Kevin’s Community Center, founder and Medical Director Z. Michael Taweh said, “It was really exceptional.”

The event is KCC’s annual major fundraising event, and Dr Taweh said about 175 people attended this year, up from roughly 60 attendees last year.

Goldman Sachs offered to match each donation for the event “dollar for dollar,” according to Dr Taweh.

For those who were unable to attend the event, but who still wish to donate, Dr Taweh said Goldman Sachs is continuing to match “dollar for dollar” donations that mention “Mozart, Merlot and Mums” with the donation, until fundraising efforts reach $100,000.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Kevin’s Community Center, Inc, a nonprofit, free medical clinic founded in 2002 by Dr Taweh and his wife Jocelyne in memory of their son Kevin.

Mozart, Merlot and Mums, which ran from 4 to 7 pm, included wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and musical performances on Edmond Town Hall’s stage by Krista Adams Santilli and Frank Mastrone, with Melissa Westgate, Darwin Shen, Galen Tate, and Colleen Cooney.

Ms Santilli, a well-known soprano, received great reviews, according to Dr Taweh.

“Everybody loved it. They performed for us last year and this year was even better,” said Dr Taweh.

Dr Taweh said he is already thinking about plans for next year’s Mozart, Merlot and Mums event.

“We’re hoping to do similar to what we did this year by inviting the same musical team and [holding] the silent auction,” said Dr Taweh.

While it can take weeks to collect all of the donations, Dr Taweh said this year’s Mozart, Merlot and Mums is expected to raise “significantly” more money than last year’s.

In a letter inside this year’s Mozart, Merlot and Mums program, Dr Taweh wrote, “As we continue to provide direct medical services and offer community outreach opportunities for prevention of health issues for our neighbors, we are finally on our way towards the dream we have had in Kevin’s spirit, namely the building of a distinct Kevin’s Community Center facility.

“To this end, we have purchased the land and are more than halfway towards our fundraising goal to embark on the actual building construction,” Dr Taweh wrote.

According to the program, KCC needs to raise $500,000 “as soon as possible” to begin construction on the “modest but comprehensive medical resource center.”

Dr Taweh said efforts are being made to make a video of the 2015 Mozart, Merlot and Mums performance for those who could not attend the event. He also said he hopes to sell the video for a nominal fee to continue to raise money.

For more information about KCC or to make a donation call 203-426-0496 or visit its website, kevinscommunitycenter.org.