WVU Children’s Hospital to host 10th Annual Ohio Valley Gala

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Ohio Valley area supporters of WVU Children’s Hospital will celebrate “An Affair of the Heart – 10 Years of Giving Back” on Saturday, Aug. 16 at The White Palace in Wheeling Park.

The black-tie gala will kick off at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception. During this time, guests will have the opportunity to bid on several silent auction items while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

At 7 p.m., the program will begin and will include the stories of WVU Children’s Hospital patient honorees from previous galas in a special feature called “A Decade of Miracles.” In addition, Rajai Khoury, M.D., medical director of the Khoury Surgical Group in St. Clairsville, Ohio, will be honored for his community service.

After dinner, which will be served at 7:30 p.m., guests will be treated to a performance by Steven Vance, strolling violinist. Dance band Rubberband will take the stage at 9:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the event will benefit WVU Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Transport Team.

“Last year, families from the greater Wheeling area turned to WVU Children’s Hospital nearly 8,000 times and found hope and healing. In 2013 alone, there were 26 children from the Ohio Valley that were rushed to WVU Children’s via our specialized Pediatric Transport Team,” Cheryl Jones, R.N., director of WVU Children’s Hospital, said. “We are so grateful for the continued support of our friends in the Ohio Valley area, and we look forward to sharing this evening with them.”

Tickets cost $100 per person. To purchase tickets to the gala or to obtain sponsorship information, contact Dee O’Palko, WVU Children’s Hospital development officer, at 304-598-4346 ext. 4 or opalkod@wvuhealthcare.com. Additional information can also be found online at www.ovchgala.com.

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 Ohio Valley Gala, please call Angela Jones-Knopf, HSC News Service, at 304-293-7087 in advance.