The eighth annual "A Night with Papa Luigi" is set for March 1, 2008. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Huron Regional Medical Center's dialysis unit.

"Papa Luigi is a special event presented by the HRMC Foundation that benefits a different program at HRMC each year," explains Rob Timm, executive director of the HRMC Foundation. "The board of directors decided to direct this year's proceeds to the dialysis unit to help replace life-sustaining dialysis machines.

In 2005, Papa Luigi attended the Academy Awards and rubbed elbows with "celebrity" waiters, including Dumb and Dumber, Madonna, Marilyn Monroe, Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball, Marshall Dillon and Miss Kitty, Bette Midler, Cruella DeVille, Hugh Hefner and the Incredibles. More than $32,000 was raised for HRMC's Home Health agency endowment.

In 2006, Papa Luigi joined "celebrity" waiters for a Hawaiian Honeymoon Luau. Papa Luigi had the honor of meeting Miss Hawaii (or, maybe it was Mr. Hawaii, we couldn't quite tell in some cases), as well as the Big Kahuna. The event raised $34,000 for HRMC's emergency room endowment.

"Papa Luigi will travel south again – this time to Orlando, Florida, and Walt Disney World," Timm says. "Our celebrity waiters are going to have a lot of fun playing off this theme. We expect to see quite a few princesses, some Mickeys and Minnies, and many other cartoon characters!"

The fun-filled event begins with a 6 p.m. social on Saturday, March 1, at the Huron Event Center, and will be followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30, or $300 for a table of 10.

"A Night with Papa Luigi" is open to the public. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.hrmcfoundation.org, at HRMC information desks, at Home Hearted located in the Huron Mall or by calling 353-6315.

Papa Luigi enjoyed a Tex/Mex vacation in 2007 with"celebrity" waiters donning western and Mexican attire ranging from Pancho Villa to John Wayne and his saloon girls. The event raised $41,000 for HRMC Foundation's scholarship, education and equipment projects.