03/27/2026
Throwback to where it all began.
Check out these photos from the very first Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation Gala the “Heritage Gala.” It marked the start of a tradition created out of purpose, partnership, and a shared focus to improve health outcomes and opportunities for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
More than just raising money to support the Foundation's efforts, from the very beginning, this Gala was designed to celebrate partnerships — the relationships built across North Carolina with elected officials, civic organizations, businesses, and educational institutions, all of whom are committed to advancing the health and well-being of this community.
The purpose of the annual Gala has grown beyond just the local partnerships to now also serve as a platform for the curated opportunity to connect leaders in health policy that emphasizes rural healthcare with the voices and decision makers who serve indigenous populations. Rural healthcare and Indigenous healthcare are often discussed separately, even though the challenges, and the opportunities, overlap. This Gala became a place to bridge that gap. A place where leaders in health policy sit alongside those delivering care on the ground. A place where thoughtful and responsive conversations that directly shape our healthcare system here in Cherokee can take place to ensure the system is being built around the needs of our patients.
So much has changed since that first evening. The scale, the setting, the growth of the Foundation and the work it supports.
But the most important things haven’t changed at all.
The reason we come together.
The people who stand behind this mission.
And the belief that, working together, we can continue building something that can best serve our community.
That’s why we continue this tradition. We are so excited for the 15th Annual Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation Gala scheduled for June 27, 2026.
