In addition to his work in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Radiology Department, Dr. William Shiels is one of the major sponsors of the Christine’s Christmas event, which is commemorating a decade of giving this year.
The 10th annual event, scheduled for Dec. 14, raises money for the Christine Wilson Burn Center at the hospital and for other children’s charities. The Christine Wilson Foundation has donated $454,000 to the burn center and other causes.
The Burn Center – which treats chemical, electrical and thermal burns, as well as frostbite and other skin conditions – was officially named for Wilson this year in a ceremony held June 11. The Dublin native was only 19 years old when she and four friends died in an arson near The Ohio State University campus in April 2003.
The Wilsons’ family friend and neighbor, Mark King, began the Christine’s Christmas concert.
King, a radiologist at Nationwide Children’s, was always passionate about music, says Courtney Cahill, assistant director of development for Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation. “He had a great relationship with Christine and her family. His way of dealing with her passing was through piano.”
“The first concert was held in 2004 and it was very simple – Mark at the piano and the Columbus Children’s Choir – and it raised around $10,000,” says Donna Glanzman, a member of the board of directors for Christine’s Christmas. “This year’s goal is to raise $100,000.”
King is still at the center of the concert. He has written and arranged all of the music that will be performed by the Dublin Jerome High School choir and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and he will open the concert.
The event is growing every year and the board is very grateful to be gaining new sponsors, such as Macy’s, to help put on a great show for the 10th anniversary, Glanzman says.
This year, as in past years, WBNS-10TV news anchor Chuck Strickler will be the master of ceremonies. Strickler also serves on the board of Christine’s Christmas and works throughout the year planning the event and soliciting sponsorships from businesses around central Ohio.
“Christine’s Christmas has become a rich tradition in Columbus,” Strickler says. “Being the 10th year, Mark King has some special things planned to entertain the crowd and also pay tribute to Christine’s love of the music of the holidays. Mark continues the musical tradition that is a part of her spirit and legacy.”
The concert at the Riffe Center’s Capitol Theatre begins at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a silent auction. Tickets for Christine’s Christmas can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.
Nathan Rhodes is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@cityscenemediagroup.com.
