Butterfly Release Celebration 2026

The Phelps Health Foundation Butterfly Release Celebration, to be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, is a heartfelt event that brings together families and friends to honor and remember loved ones who have passed, symbolized by the release of butterflies. These delicate creatures, symbolizing hope and the continuation of life, provide a comforting moment of reflection as attendees watch them take flight.

In 2025, community members and businesses raised over $25,000 to support patient services in the region. With touching speeches, a moving invocation, and the magical moment of butterflies taking flight, the event beautifully blends remembrance and support, reminding all that our loved ones live on in our hearts and memories.

Purchase Your Butterfly Release T-Shirts!

Sponsors and individual attendees automatically receive the number of shirts included with their sponsorship or ticket level (see Sponsorships and Tickets page). The Foundation will coordinate sponsor T-shirt pickup and contact sponsors to ensure shirts are received prior to the event.

Additional T-shirts may be purchased through Blue Fish Screen Printing & Design through the link below. The online store closes end of day APRIL 24.

Click to Purchase T-Shirts

Important Notes:

• The deadline to order a butterfly, a T-shirt, or both is end of day APRIL 24.
• Proceeds from all T-shirts sold directly benefit the Phelps Health Foundation.
• T-shirts purchased through this link must initially be picked up at Blue Fish Screen Printing & Design, located at 706 S. Bishop, Suite C, in Rolla. You will be notified when your shirts are ready for pickup.
• Shirts must be picked up by end of day MAY 14. Any shirts not picked up by that date will be brought to the event for pickup on May 16, or may be picked up after the event at the Foundation House (907 West 12th Street).

Payroll Deduction Instructions (Employees Only):

• Enter your employee ID number in the box near the bottom of the order page.
• Use code payrolldeduct at checkout.
• Please ensure you receive an email confirmation of your order; without confirmation, your order may not have been placed successfully.
  

For questions, please contact Cody Fulkerson at [email protected] or (573) 458-7143.

Quilt Raffle!

Wrap yourself in the gentle beauty of nature with this handcrafted quilt, made by Phelps Health Foundation's own Beth Dare. Lovingly pieced from vibrant butterfly-print fabrics, each panel flutters with color, capturing the delicate beauty of butterflies in flight set against a serene palette of purples and blues. Perfect as a cozy throw or a striking bed topper, this 54"x66" quilt is both a work of art and a comforting embrace.

The drawing will be held at the Butterfly Release Celebration on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Huffman Garden Center in Saint James. You do not need to be present to win.

Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased using the Sponsorships and Tickets button below. Phelps Health employees may also purchase tickets using payroll deduct by clicking here.

Phelps Health Foundation Mission Fund

The Phelps Health Foundation Mission Fund directly supports Phelps Health initiatives and patient needs, including building and infrastructure improvements, acquisition of advanced equipment, and assistance with patient needs such as meals, medical supplies and procedures, transportation and more, ultimately enhancing the quality of care for all patients.

The Foundation committed over $140,000 in 2025 to support over 1,400 patients throughout our region in the following ways:

• 1,100 patients received meals through the Lunchbox Program
• 364 patients received nutritional supplements (i.e. Ensure)
• 49 patients received free mammograms
• 61patients received assistance with transportation, housing and/or living expenses
• 400+ patients received assistance for medical supplies and procedures (wigs, speech aid, pulmonary/cardiology/speech therapy (co-pay), imaging, wheelchair, etc)

The Phelps Health Foundation also supported National Cancer Survivors Day, National Nurses Week, the DAISY Award and many more initiatives that positively impact our community and health system.

To learn more about the Phelps Health Foundation and how you can help, please visit https://phelpshealth.org/foundation, email [email protected], or call (573) 458-7759. Your contribution makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and neighbors.