The sixth annual Denim & Diamonds gala event will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2011, at 7 p.m. at the Chattanooga Convention Center to benefit Project Access, a charity providing health care to the working poor and uninsured. The event is organized by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, Medical Foundation of Chattanooga, and Medical Alliance.

Denim & Diamonds: Footloose, sponsored by Dale Buchanan & Associates, Kindred Healthcare and Barnett & Company, will celebrate the awesome decade of the 1980’s. There will be an informal evening of entertainment, dancing, auctions and few surprises, too. “Every year more people comment on how much fun they had,” said Rae Bond, Medical Society and Foundation Executive Director. “In fact, so many people want to attend, we had to move to a new venue to accommodate everyone. We look forward to making Denim & Diamonds a fun and exciting community event.”

This year an online auction will take place before the event to encourage community wide participation in raising funds for Project Access. The site will go live on Feb. 7, 2011, and can be accessed through www.chattdenim.org.

Project Access has provided $65 million in charity health care to the working poor since its inception just 6 1/2 years ago. Since the program began, more than 8,000 individuals have been evaluated for eligibility. Each month an average of 500 patients are actively receiving care or finalizing enrollment. Those who do not qualify for the program are referred to other appropriate community resources and programs.

“Project Access is helping people get back on their feet, return to work, and obtain their own health insurance again,” Mrs. Bond said. “The funds we raise at Denim & Diamonds support this work so that we can continue to help as many people as possible.”

The event is open to the public. Table sponsorships are available starting at $1,000. Individual tickets are $75 for Medical Society member physicians, house staff residents are $50/person, and individuals are $125. To purchase your table or tickets, call the Medical Society at 622-2872 or visit www.chattdenim.org.

Sponsorship opportunities, including exclusive sponsorships, are available ranging from $500 to $7,500. Opportunities include exclusive sponsorships of activities and events. For more information, contact Kevin Lusk at 622-2872.