Hospice and Palliative Care

Friends of Hospice San Antonio

Poinsettia Ball History

At the celebration of Hospice San Antonio’s tenth anniversary in 1993, Dorothy “Peaches” Brewer, M.D. was honored with a lovely evening of fine dining and tributes to her work. Lynn Hamby, a charter Board Member, presented a wonderful description of the first ten years of Hospice San Antonio, which included the following history of the Poinsettia Ball:

“In 1988, Hospice San Antonio invited the community to celebrate its first Poinsettia Ball, honoring the Ecumenical Center.  For those of us who attended this beautiful event, the brainchild of Anne Smith, the night was truly a magical one.  The Poinsettia Ball has been one of the highlights of the holiday season, both because of the work of Hospice San Antonio (which it supports) and the beauty of the mass of Poinsettias that are the hallmark of the evening.”

Friends of Hospice San Antonio assumed the volunteer steering committee responsibility for the Ball in 1995.   The Ball has been chaired by the following talented members of the community:  Neal Krause, Beverly Smith (representing the Ecumenical Center), Anne B. Smith, Chica Younger, Millie DeAnda, Marge Johnson, Jane Phillips, Claire Daviss, Betty Parish, Diana Harris, Cecil Scanlan, Winifred Cocke, Tookie Spoor, Lynn Hamby, Vicki Richardson, Carol Canty, Lori Wright, Pauleen Netting, Lois Jones, Nancy Torgerson, Gretchen Burkholder, Sally Owens, Jenifer Brown, Kristina Fentress, Carter Dreesman, Johanna Comuzzi, Janice Brazil, Barbara Schneider, Kim Fisher, Beverly Purcell Guerra, Lucy Wilson, DeeAnn Simpson, Karen Dawson and Mary Ann Franzke. The elegant evening of fine food, entertainment and dancing has never become complicated by an auction or raffle.  It is truly a special holiday party.

Since 1995, The Ball has raised $1,346,000 to provide care for thousands of uninsured hospice patients and their families.

Contact Us
Friends of Hospice San Antonio
P.O. Box 40487
San Antonio, TX 78229-0487
210-785-5850