Leslie DiNovi, Roxanne Bain and Rosemary Pierce

Barry and Barbara Epstein with Judith Relman

MedWish International welcomed 300 guests to its annual fundraiser at FWD Day + Nightclub on June 10, celebrating its milestone 30th year with its signature Band Aid Bash.
The outdoor event raised more than $235,000 for the nonprofit’s mission: to saves lives and the environment by repurposing surplus medical supplies and equipment to provide humanitarian aid to people in need.
Guests enjoyed a beautiful summer evening along the flats of the Cuyahoga River, complete with food stations, outdoor couches, cocktails and a silent auction.
Originally founded in 1993 by Lee Ponsky, the organization has grown

Jerry and Tracy Hammer, Kennedy Hammer, and Prestyn Malone

significantly in three decades. In 2022, it shipped 383,969 pounds of international aid to 32 countries, and close to 77,000 pounds of medical supplies were distributed locally and domestically in the US. A video presentation detailed MedWish’s impact across the globe, and featured an El Salvadoran boy named Marcos who received a wheelchair from MedWish. Marcos nicknamed it “McQueen” based on the animated fictional character from the movie franchise, “Cars.”
Entertainment was provided by the seven-piece Boston-based band Couch, fronted by lead singer Tema Siegel. Their vibrant musical style is infused with pop, funk, rock, and R&B/soul, all with expressive horns, warm vocals, and bubbling synthesizers.
Special edition MedWish T-shirts were created for the event, and are still available in two options ranging from sizes XS to 4XL. Pricing starts at $35. To order, visit https://medwish.org/bash/. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREA C. TURNER