This year marks the 35th annual TexasFest Texas in Wonderland—and Chair Joy Goodrum plans to be the Queen of Irving’s Hearts, according to Irving Healthcare Foundation (IHF).
TexasFest is the premier fundraising event benefiting IHF. As this year’s theme suggests, guests will be transported to the magic of the Wonderland they may have known as children…with a Texas twist! The room will be transformed into a Wonderland with new games and adventures such as a Mad Hatter’s Hat Competition, The Wonderland Castle Crazy Croquet Course and a Queen of Hearts Texas Hold’ Em Tournament. The gala will be held this year at the Irving Convention Center on May 3, 2014.
The entertainment this year will take a step away from the traditional TexasFest western tradition and into the whimsy of Wonderland. The world renowned Cirque Vertigo will be showcased featuring aerial acrobatics, and whimsical stunts that will fill the room and add to the evening’s magic. Cirque Vertigo performs internationally as part of the world famous Wallenda family of the “Flying Wallendas” fame.
Joy Goodrum, Director of Education and Workforce Development for the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, has agreed to serve as chairperson of Irving Healthcare Foundation’s TexasFest gala. “Supporting the Irving Healthcare Foundation and its beneficiaries is part of my genetic makeup! My grandfather went door to door raising money to help Irving build its first community hospital and eight years after completion, my mother and father welcomed me into the world in the maternity ward of Irving Community Hospital. I spent a majority of my adult life working in the healthcare industry of Irving so the opportunity to serve in this role is such an incredible honor. This event provides opportunities to improve the quality of life for so many in Irving and I hope this year will touch record numbers of hearts and raise more dollars than any other year in TexasFest’s 35 year history”, Goodrum explained.
“Joy currently is a Director for the foundation and will be another superb TexasFest chair. She’s part of a hall-of-fame-worthy, 35-year roster of spectacular volunteer leaders,” says IHF President John Drake. “We feel that Joy’s experience and great understanding of the Irving medical community will be a terrific asset to our gala. Our board and our staff are so proud that she selected TexasFest as her next project to help her community. We are looking forward to working with Joy to raise funds for a healthier Irving.”
Founded in 1977, Irving Healthcare Foundation’s mission is to make people healthier by awarding funds raised and by encouraging volunteer service to worthy nonprofit organizations that provide healthcare or medical services in Irving. Baylor Medical Center at Irving, the city’s only nonprofit hospital, is IHF’s primary beneficiary. Other recipients include the Irving YMCA’s Childhood Obesity Program, Our Children’s House at Baylor Irving, and the Irving Interfaith Clinic. More information about TexasFest and IHF is available at www.healthyirving.org.
