Taste of Oxford Raises More than $125,000 for St. Jude

Left to right , Trace Randall, Elizabeth Randall, Peter P. Costa, CNBC Market Commentator/ Photo By Anna Stone

Silent auction alone brings in more than $70,000 for the hospital founded by entertainer Danny Thomas

By Michael Harrelson, Editor, HottyToddy.com

michael.harrelson@hottytoddy.com

Last night’s Taste of Oxford fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Hospital far exceeded its goal for the world-famous research and treatment center in Memphis, a Taste of Oxford spokeswoman told HottyToddy.com on Thursday.

“It was a huge success,” said Committee Member Elizabeth Randall. “We don’t have an exact total, but we raised more than $125,000, which was our goal.”

More than 700 people attended the event held at The Library downtown, Randall said, adding that the silent auction alone accounted for more than $70,000 of this year’s successful effort to raise enough money to operate St. Jude for 100 minutes.

“Oxford just showed tremendous generosity. Even the bartenders at The Library donated their tips for the evening, which was almost $500,” Randall said.

Although the annual event provides an opportunity for local residents to have fun and taste some of the finest cuisine that the city has to offer, Randall said the charity fundraiser is all about the cause.

“When Danny Thomas started St Jude Hospital, he said, ‘No child should die in the dawn of life,’ and that resonates with everybody.”

It costs $1.8 million per day to operate St. Jude, funded primarily by public contributions such as The Taste of Oxford. No family every pays St. Jude for anything.