The 2010 Cordova Mall Ball Committee presents Henry Roberts (L), President of Sacred Heart Foundation, with a check for almost $359,000 following another successful Mall Ball. The group includes Roger Webb, President of Wendco (in center holding check). Wendy’s has been the presenting sponsor of the Cordova Mall Ball for the past several years.

New technology will replace 15-year-old patient-monitoring systems in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, thanks to funds raised through the 2010 Cordova Mall Ball presented by Wendy’s. The event raised close to $359,000.

Net proceeds will be used to purchase four Phillips Intellivue MP 70 hemodynamic-monitoring systems for the 10-bed PICU. The unit is dedicated to caring for critically ill and injured children. The new technology will be used to monitor young patients’ blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, central and arterial pressure, internal temperature and intracranial pressure.

This was the 15th year that the Mardi Gras-style event has been held to benefit Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. More than 2,200 people attended, and the event was supported by more than 60 area businesses.

In recent years, Cordova Mall Ball funds have been used to help purchase a security system for Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, several special isolettes for critically ill newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery, and special pumps and monitors for pediatric needs.

More than 20 community volunteers serve on the Cordova Mall Ball Committee each year, also known as the Krewe of Les Petits Enfants (Order of the Small Children). These individuals, along with many others who volunteer on the night of the event, provide countless of hours of service to make the Cordova Mall Ball an annual success. Volunteers this year included 150 military personnel representing the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.

The 2011 Cordova Mall Ball has been scheduled for Feb. 5. For more information about the Cordova Mall Ball, including information on volunteering, please call Sacred Heart Foundation at 850-416-4660 or visit www.sacred-heart.org/mallball.