The medical school’s 4th Annual Imagine Gala is less than four months away.
The black-tie affair will feature a “Havana Nights” inspired theme, authentic Cuban cuisine and band, as well as drinks, desserts and dancing.
This year’s hosts of the Imagine Gala, Ken and Julie Miller, will welcome guests to the event beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at the W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus in downtown Kalamazoo.
Julie and Ken Miller, who is a member emeritus of the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees, a WMU alumnus and CEO of the Millennium Restaurant Group, have been longtime proponents of education and students in the Kalamazoo community, and stalwart supports of the medical school.
The Imagine Gala helps with needed funding for Early Introduction to Health Careers (EIH), WMed’s pipeline programs for elementary and high school students from Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS). To honor Ken and Julie’s commitment to education and the community, this year’s event will serve as the venue for an important announcement regarding a new endeavor around EIH to ensure that high school students from the program are able to realize their dreams.
A campaign is currently underway to establish a new endowment at the medical school that will fund medical school scholarships for students from southwest Michigan, with preference given to KPS graduates who completed EIH.
The pipeline programs, which began in 2016, are designed to champion the biomedical science and healthcare career aspirations of underrepresented youth. The programs also provide a platform for WMed students to design and teach interactive learning experiences to help elementary and high school students develop leadership, team-building, and problem-solving skills.
Last year’s Imagine Gala attracted its largest-ever crowd as almost 400 people gathered at the W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus for the event.
Reservations for the 4th Annual Imagine Gala are available now and can be purchased by visiting med.wmich.edu/GALA or by calling 269.337.4370. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.