“An Affair of the Heart” is Feb. 9
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Five days before Valentine’s Day, supporters of WVU Children’s Hospital will celebrate “An Affair of the Heart” with the 10th annual gala on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Morgantown Event Center at Waterfront Place.“Caring for sick and injured children is truly an ‘affair of the heart,’ and we’re so grateful that people from all over the state and region have found it in their hearts to support this event for 10 years,” Cheryl Jones, R.N., director of WVU Children’s Hospital, said. “We never imagined this event would grow to be as big as it is, but the fact that it has is a testament to the fact that we have a large network of dedicated supporters. For that, we can’t thank them enough.”
This year’s black-tie gala will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction. Just before dinner at 7 p.m., Donna Dorinzi, M.S.N., maternal-fetal medicine advanced nurse practitioner and clinical assistant professor in the West Virginia University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, will receive the WVU Children’s Hospital Award, and Jeremiah Johnson, marketing membership lead and Children’s Miracle Network coordinator for Sam’s Club #4860 in Beckley, W.Va., will receive the WVU Children’s Hospital Community Leader Award.
Martinsburg native Jordan Beland, West Virginia’s 2013 Children’s Miracle Network Champion Child, and his family will be at the gala to share their story about the care Jordan received at WVU Children’s Hospital.
After dinner, gala attendees will participate in a live auction, which will feature several big ticket items, including a home furniture package; a Pittsburgh Penguins hockey night; trips to Ocean City, Md., Outer Banks, N.C., and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and dinners with WVU coaches Bob Huggins and Dana Holgorsen.
Following the live auction, En Vogue will take the stage and perform hits such as “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It),” “Giving Him Something He Can Feel,” and “Free Your Mind.” The evening will conclude with party band Jessie’s Girls.
Last year’s gala, which set a record for attendance, raised more than $306,000 for WVU Children’s Hospital, bringing the total raised over nine years to more than $1.5 million.
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, HSC News Service, at 304-293-7087 in advance.
