WVU Children’s Hospital to host 12th annual gala on Saturday
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Walking into the Morgantown Event Center at Waterfront Place on Saturday will transport the attendees of the 12th Annual WVU Children’s Hospital Gala into a mystical, magical fairy-tale world. “An Enchanted Evening” will be filled with gourmet dining, entertainment, dancing, and live and silent auctions.
The black-tie event will begin with a champagne reception at 5:30 p.m., at which time the silent auction –the first of three auctions to be held throughout the event – also begins.
At 7 p.m., the WVU Children’s Hospital Welcome and Awards Program begins. Kathy Moffett, M.D., pediatric infectious diseases specialist at WVU Children’s Hospital, will receive the WVU Children’s Hospital Award, and Dan “Zip” and Stacy Shearer of Morgantown will receive the WVU Children’s Hospital Community Leader Award.
The first live auction of the evening will begin at 8 p.m., and the after-hours live auction will start at 10 p.m. Items up for grabs during this year’s auctions include trips to Florida, Colorado, and South Carolina; jewelry; an Enchanted Playhouse built by MTEC; sports-themed packages; and more.
Two highlights of this year’s gala – the emcee and the live entertainment – are being kept top secret. Gala Co-Chairs Damian Ferek and Kim Johnson of Morgantown-based The Stick Company, said that the secrecy adds to the excitement and anticipation for the evening.
“We look forward to the added twists and surprise appearances for this weekend’s event,” Johnson said. “We hope it creates a mesmerizing experience but also serves as a reminder of the magic that is created during this event for the many children who turn to WVU Children’s Hospital every year.”
“The past year of planning has been a great community effort from all of the volunteers, supporters, and sponsors,” Ferek added. “It is very exciting to see how all of the various aspects will come together in one night to make a significant contribution to WVU Children’s Hospital.”
The evening will conclude with the Mercedes CARe for Kids Raffle and dance band Party on the Moon.
For $100, raffle ticket holders have the chance to win a 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 4Matic SUV. The raffle is open to anyone, and the winner need not be present to win. Tickets can be purchased online until 5 p.m. on Friday. For more information and to purchase a ticket, visit www.wvuchgala.com. Purchase of a raffle ticket does not include entry to the gala.
Award-winning dance band Party on the Moon will take the stage at 10:45 p.m. to perform a high-energy, non-stop party extravaganza.
WVU Children’s Hospital – located on the sixth floor of Ruby Memorial, WVU Healthcare’s flagship hospital – provides maternal, infant and pediatric care for West Virginia and the surrounding region, giving care to high-risk mothers, premature infants and children with life-threatening conditions through adolescence to adulthood. For information on WVU Children’s Hospital, see www.wvukids.com.
Attention reporters and editors: If you plan to cover the WVU Children’s Hospital Gala, please call Angela Jones-Knopf at 304-293-7087 in advance.