MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Healthcare’s fourth annual Penny Wars to benefit patients at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center (MBRCC) raised $11,868.70 – or 1,186,870 pennies – exceeding its goal to collect 1 million pennies – or $10,000 – in eight weeks.
During the campaign, coin collection containers were set up at area businesses and around WVU, including the WVU Health Sciences Center cafeteria, WVUH Friends Gift Shop, Black Bear Burritos, Boston Beanery, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cool Ridge, Texas Roadhouse and the WVU Barnes and Noble Bookstore.
The WVU Health Sciences Center collected the most pennies followed by the WVU Barnes and Noble Bookstore and Buffalo Wild Wings.
“There are so many worthy causes to support these days, yet folks in our community always manage to dig a little deeper into their pockets to help cancer patients by donating to Penny Wars,” Jame Abraham, M.D., chief of Hematology/Oncology at WVU and the Bonnie Wells Wilson Distinguished Professor and Eminent Scholar in Breast Cancer Research, said. “Their kindness and generosity will mean so much to patients and families dealing with a cancer diagnosis.”
The Clarion Hotel Morgan joined the campaign this year by hosting a Kentucky Derby Party on May 7. Guests watched the horse race, while enjoying dinner, mint juleps, raffle prizes and a hat contest. The party raised $6,500 for Penny Wars.
Proceeds from Penny Wars benefit the MBRCC Comfort Fund that was established to provide temporary, short-term financial assistance for patients being treated at the Cancer Center until they can be linked with appropriate community, state or national resources.
Penny Wars has raised more than $49,000 since it began four years ago.
