'Beebe Goes Purple' for 6th Annual Event to Support the Local Fight Against Opioid Addiction
Monday, Aug. 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day, recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) every year on the last day of August. The goals are to raise awareness about the risks of overdose, share information on prevention, treatment, and recovery services, and show support for those whose lives have been impacted by overdose.
Beebe is doing its part to promote these important messages by announcing its 6th annual “Go Purple” event, which will be held Thursday, September 17, from 5-9 p.m. at the Starboard Restaurant, located in Dewey Beach.
Go Purple aims to create a positive, lasting impact on the community by raising awareness about mental health and substance abuse challenges. Monies from the event allow Beebe to invest in education, prevention, and recovery resources for local people in need. Fifty percent of food and beverage sales and 100 percent of bartending tips contributed during the event will benefit Beebe Medical Foundation’s Go Purple Fund.
Go Purple was initiated in 2019 when Beebe Medical Foundation’s Young Professionals Group set out to make a positive difference for local people impacted by addiction.
“Go Purple is an event that brings people in the community together in a fun way for a great cause,” said Amy Keller, Event Coordinator at Beebe Medical Foundation. “We are so grateful for our sponsors, guest bartenders, and event attendees. They understand how important it is to keep the local opioid epidemic front and center and are willing to support our efforts to make vital services available.”
Attendees enjoyed food and a variety of their favorite beverages. Several members of the community paired up in teams of two to serve as guest bartenders, with friendly competition encouraging teams to fundraise more than the others during their 15-minute shift. The winning teams at the latest Go Purple event were Lee Ann Wilkinson and Amy Hopkins, and Connor Jones and Jason Abela. Look for celebrity bartender profiles on the Beebe Medical Foundation Facebook page.
In 2025, the Go Purple event generated $116,000 in funding to support local opioid addiction awareness, education, prevention, and recovery efforts. Over the past five years, the event has raised more than $455,000, which has allowed the hospital to invest in cuddle cots, behavioral health beds, patient supplies, labor and delivery department supplies, an automated external defibrillator (AED) machine on Beebe’s mobile health unit, and expansion of Beebe’s investment in trauma informed screenings and education. It also funded a sobriety celebration for a group of patients in recovery as they celebrated milestone anniversaries.
For more information about Go Purple, including sponsorship and online donations options, please visit BeebeHealthcare.org/GoPurple.