Methodist Hospital’s Crystal Ball Fund Raiser Returns to the Pasadena Convention Center on Oct. 9

ARCADIA, Calif. (September 17, 2021)  — The Methodist Hospital Foundation is thrilled to announce that  Crystal Ball 2021, featuring The Ultimate Queen Celebration starring Marc Martel, will return to the Pasadena Convention Center on Saturday, October 9. The black-tie event will be back in-person once again and will feature a hosted reception, fine dining, a silent auction, a remarkable live auction, entertainment and plenty of dancing.

 

“For this year’s 32nd annual celebration we are delighted to recognize and honor Aner and Rebecca Iglesias for their leadership and charitable support of the vital healthcare and healing mission of Methodist Hospital,” said Mike Driebe, President of the Methodist Hospital Foundation. “We are also privileged to have previous Crystal Ball Honoree Patty Nijjar and cardiologist Dr. Heiner Vogelbach as co-chairs of this great event.”

 

Proceeds from the 32nd Annual Crystal Ball will support the advanced technology and innovative treatments our community needs. Methodist Hospital is embarking on a program to update technology, transform surgical services and take the next step forward in our constant journey toward unsurpassed quality care.

 

“Healthcare has changed enormously in recent years,” said Driebe. “Lives that once would have been lost can now be saved. Procedures that could only be dreamed of are performed routinely. All this is possible today because Methodist Hospital has the right equipment and facilities to attract and enable the very best caregivers thanks to advances that our loyal donors have helped provide.”

 

Longtime hospital supporters Aner and Rebecca Iglesias are excited about the event. Mr. Inglesias holds many business interests in the San Gabriel Valley, and is likely best known as the founder and president of the locally operated Baja Ranch Market chain which opened its first store in 1979. Baja Ranch markets are neighborhood grocery stores focused on providing high-quality food products at the lowest prices while specializing in distinctive foods from places like the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Spain.

 

“We were very humbled when we accepted this honor,” said Inglesias. “So many wonderful people have been recognized previously since we’ve been involved with Crystal Ball. When we shared this honor with our family, they were very, very proud of us.”

 

Patty Nijjar, a Crystal Ball honoree in 2019, is excited that her close friends will be recognized this year.

 

“Aner and I have served together on the Foundation Board of Directors for about eight years and became fast friends. We do things together with our families and we treasure their friendship,” Nijjar said. “It’s going to be a great event. We have a goal to raise $1 million.”

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Vogelbach, who is a two-time Crystal Ball co-chair, returns to serve as co-chair one more time. Dr. Vogelbach has been a member of the Methodist Hospital medical staff since 1983.

 

“Methodist Hospital is my home away from home,” said Dr. Vogelbach, who also served on the Foundation Board from 2005 to 2013. “So I’m very interested in making Methodist Hospital the best hospital it can be when I’m practicing medicine here. It’s very important for us to be on the forefront of everything.”

 

This year’s gala fundraiser is already breaking records with three generous Title Sponsors Charles Huang Foundation; as well as Aner and Rebecca Iglesias and Rusnak Auto Group. The hospital is grateful for this significant support and also to the three Grand Sponsors: Bel Air Investment Advisors; Panda Restaurant Group, Inc.; and Mickey and Lee Segal & Alan and Sandy Whitman. With their participation along with that of our three Crystal Sponsors Chi’s Enterprise, Inc.,

Dick and Sue Hale and Mike and Patty Nijjar , 14 Platinum Sponsors and 27 Gold sponsors, the Crystal Ball Committee organizing the event looks forward to continuing in the wonderful tradition of this gala as a significant fundraiser in support of Methodist Hospital.

The entertainment for the evening will be The Ultimate Queen Celebration starring Marc Martel, who is a vocal doppelgänger for Freddie Mercury, the late Queen frontman. Martel provided a prominent but invisible role in the Oscar-winning movie “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which chronicled the life of Mercury and his Queen bandmates. While the movie employed many of Mercury’s actual vocals from the Queen archives, it was Martel’s vocal performance that was used in movie scenes where Mercury’s vocal was unavailable.

 

To learn more about Crystal Ball sponsorships or to purchase event tickets, please go to https://www.mhcrystalball.com or contact the Methodist Hospital Foundation at 626-898-8888.