Heather Shubirg, SMA Foundation board chair; Susan Capone Rode, SMA Foundation executive director; Ivan Cosimi, SMA Healthcare CEO; and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. Courtesy photo
Honoree Austin Dillon with Event Emcee Kim Coon during Fireside Chat. Courtesy photo
Ivan Cosimi, SMA Healthcare CEO; Heather Shubirg, SMA Foundation board chair; Susan Capone Rode, SMA Foundation executive director; Daniel Dye and Randy Dye, of 71MVP. Courtesy photo
Kelly Scholarship Bear Auction winner with Michael Waltrip. Courtesy photo
Honoree Austin Dillon with Former SMA Client and Employee Lex Cunniff. Courtesy photo
The SMA Healthcare Foundation celebrated its Annual Dinner Celebration & Auction on Aug. 26 at the DAYTONA 500 Club, raising $281,000 to support the mission and programs of SMA Healthcare, including more than $29,000 for the Larry and Joan Kelly Scholarship Fund.
This year’s event introduced a fresh format centered around a fireside chat between event emcee Kim Coon and returning honoree and NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Dillon. Their conversation offered guests a more personal look at Dillon’s career, experiences and life beyond the racetrack.
NASCAR champion and longtime friend of the Foundation Michael Waltrip also joined the conversation.
The event featured two check presentations in support of SMA Healthcare’s mission. Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood, on behalf of the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, presented a check for $35,000, while Randy and Daniel Dye of 71MVP presented a check for $25,000.
The live auction generated $65,000 of the event’s total revenue.
More than $29,000 of the evening’s proceeds benefited the Larry and Joan Kelly Scholarship Fund, which provides educational opportunities for students pursuing their academic goals.
The evening concluded with SMA Healthcare’s traditional “coin out” ceremony. The ceremony is modeled after the tradition used to recognize clients as they graduate from SMA’s residential treatment programs. The commemorative coin features the SMA Healthcare logo on one side and the Serenity Prayer on the other, representing recovery, perseverance and the journey forward.
Lex Cunniff, a former SMA client who later became an SMA employee, presented the coin to Dillon and shared her own story of recovery. Cunniff spoke about her journey as a client receiving services at SMA and the path that ultimately brought her back to the organization as an employee.
“The Annual Dinner is always a special opportunity to bring together people who believe in the work of SMA Healthcare and want to make a difference in our communities,” said Susan Capone Rode, executive director of the SMA Healthcare Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, donors, auction participants, volunteers and guests whose generosity made it possible to raise $281,000. Their support allows us to continue investing in programs, services and opportunities that create meaningful impact throughout the communities SMA serves.”
