10th Annual Saint Thomas Society Gala

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Robert “Rob” O’Neill, Navy SEAL Team Six leader, who participated in the 2011 raid at the Osama bin Laden compound, is the keynote speaker for the 10th annual Saint Thomas Rutherford Society Gala on January 21, 2017. The Gala, held annually to recognize donors to the Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation, begins at 6 p.m. at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, and this year will include dancing to the Atlanta Allstars. Saint Thomas Health is part of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system.

O’Neill, a highly decorated combat veteran with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, has deployed more than a dozen times and has held leadership roles in more than 400 combat missions. Team Six, the most elite of the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, is more familiarly known as SEALS, an acronym that stands for Sea, Air and Land, the three theaters of the commandos’ operations.

As a keynote speaker, O’Neill brings a unique expertise to organizations and translates his elite SEAL team training into high-impact, actionable insights on leadership, decision-making, operating in uncertain environments, and how to become the “best of the best.” O’Neill’s motto is “never quit”; he believes this is the single most important factor in determining success.
O’Neill has been decorated more than 52 times with honors, including two Silver Stars, the military’s third highest honor; four Bronze Stars with Valor, the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces and the ninth highest military award overall; a Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, the most senior of the commendation medals; three Presidential Unit citations; and two Navy/Marine Corps Commendations with Valor.
Since leaving active duty, O’Neill is a co-founder of Your Grateful Nation, which provides individualized transition support for Special Operations heroes and their families. The organization provides executive-level mentoring, transition services and family stabilization support.
In addition to O’Neill’s keynote, the 10th annual Rutherford Society Gala will recognize two key community leaders who have been particularly generous with their time, talent and treasure to Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital over the years.

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***The Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award will be presented to Dotty Bryant Adams in recognition
of her many contributions to the Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation, including serving as the Honoree for the Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation’s 2016 Wine Around the Square and supporting the “A Time to Build Up” capital campaign in 2011.

***The Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation Physician Champion Award will be presented to Dr. James Lee Boerner in recognition of his many gifts of time and talent to the Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation, including supporting the “A Time to Build Up” capital campaign in 2011. Dr. Boerner is President-elect of the Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation.

“We are extremely honored and excited to host American hero Rob O’Neill for ‘An Evening of Patriotism’ and to hear his inspiring story,” said Anne Davis, Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation Director.
“Even more so, we are thrilled to celebrate our Foundation award recipients Dotty Adams and Dr. Jim Boerner, who have been truly selfless in their support of Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital. Because of their distinctive expressions of compassion and caring for others, sharing of their financial resources and gifts of personal time, our hospital will continue to serve the residents of middle Tennessee with excellence, providing safe, compassionate and quality care.” The 2017 Rutherford Society Co-Chairs, Vicki Eastham and Dr. Libby Long, have contributed their leadership to oversee the 20-person committee that will produce the 10th annual Gala.

To join The Rutherford Society and receive tickets to the event, contact Lindsey Fournier at [email protected] or call 615.396.4996.