WRAL-FMs Jim Kelly is surprised with an inaugural Duke Hero Award at the Duke Childrens Gala on Saturday, April 21, 2018.
WRAL-TV Asst Program Director/Music Director & Air Personality Jim Kelly has spent many years and boundless energy supporting and promoting Duke Childrens Hospital over the years. Kelly emceed the Duke Childrens Gala this year but received a special surprise as well. The organization presented Kelly with one of the inaugural Duke Hero Awards at the event on Saturday, April 21, 2018.
The Gala included dinner and a Live Auction at the Washington Duke Inn in Durham. The night raised over $200,000 for the hospital and included surprise celebrity appearances from Carolina Panther player Greg Olsen and Duke Basketball player Grayson Allen. Both spoke about their experiences with Duke Childrens and helped to auction items from their organizations.
At the end of the evening Duke Childrens staffers Dr. Allan Kirk and Dr. Ann Reed made the surprise announcement they would be implementing a new award, The Duke Hero Award, which would be given each year to those who have been friends of the hospital and have gone above and beyond for the kids.
They presented the first award to Stanton Simmerson, a nurse at Duke Hospital who organizes the annual All-Star Ride for Life. The second award went to Kelly!
! Id already gotten my camera ready at that point because I think we all can attest to the amount of time Jim has invested into Duke Childrens both personally and professionally, but of course he was still surprised, said WRAL-FM Promotions Coordinator Molly Donovan.
Kirk presented the award to Kelly.
The Duke Childrens Hero Award is presented to individuals who have shown an exceptional commitment to furthering the Duke Childrens mission of providing the best medical care to every child, explained Kirk. The honoree must be an advocate, supporter, partner, and friend of Duke Childrens someone who has devoted their own time and resources to help the patients, physicians, and staff at our hospital and clinics. Tonight we are pleased to honor two individuals with this inaugural award.
Kirk continued, making the presentation to Kelly.
WRAL-FMs Jim Kelly is joined by family wife, Tara, and their children Olivia (left), Aiden & Payton at the Duke Children's Gala on Saturday, April 21, 2018, where he is surprised with an inaugural Duke Hero Award.
We told you this evening would be full of surprises and we now have a surprise for our second honoree, who does not know he is receiving this award, said Kirk. He is a longtime friend and advocate of Duke Childrens. He works tirelessly on behalf of Duke Childrens. He is not afraid to share his personal story because he knows that if one person is moved by his familys experience to give to Duke Childrens, that is one more child saved, one more researcher who could make a world-changing discovery, or one more nurse or respiratory therapist given the best-possible tools to care for their patient. His family has inspired so many people to open their hearts for Duke Childrens, and we cannot thank him enough for opening his heart to us. We are proud and lucky to have him as part of our Duke Childrens family. Our final award tonight goes to our emcee Jim Kelly.
Kellys family, including his wife, Tara, and their children, Payton and twins Olivia and Aiden, attended the event with him. Several staffers from WRAL-FM attended as well. Olivia and Aiden spent time in Duke Childrens Hospital after being born several months early back in the fall of 2004. And Aiden, who has cerebral palsy, still receives care at Duke when necessary.
Kelly has shared his personal story countless times as he enthusiastically participates in the MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Childrens Hospital each year. And he participates in other events and supports Duke Childrens in many ways throughout the remainder of the year.
Thanks to WRAL-FMs Molly Donovan for contributions to this capcom story & for these capcom photos.
WRAL-FMs Jim Kelly is surprised with an inaugural Duke Hero Award at the Duke Childrens Gala on Saturday, April 21, 2018.
WRAL-FMs Jim Kelly emcees the Duke Childrens Gala on Saturday, April 21, 2018.
WRAL-FMs Jim Kelly (left), Molly Donovan & Jason Newton attend the Duke Childrens Gala on Saturday, April 21, 2018. Kelly served as emcee and was surprised with an inaugural Duke Hero Award.
WRAL-FMs Jim Kelly is joined by family - wife, Tara, and their children Olivia (left), Aiden & Payton at the Duke Childrens Gala on Saturday, April 21, 2018, where he is surprised with an inaugural Duke Hero Award.
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WRAL-FMs Jim Kelly is surprised with an inaugural Duke Hero Award at the Duke Childrens Gala on Saturday, April 21, 2018.
