This is the third of a four-part Sunday series on the Mon Health Medical Center Auxiliary and its work. The fourth story, set to run Nov. 3, will focus on the Auxiliary’s Ball of the Year.
By David Beard
dbeard@dominionpost.com
MORGANTOWN — The 80th anniversary year of the Mon Health Medical Center Auxiliary begins a year of change.
New President Bethann Gamponia recently succeeded Chris Battin, who just completed a four-year term. They sat down with The Dominion Post to talk about what’s ahead.
“We really want to move the Auxiliary forward and adapt to healthcare the way it is today, and also keep the tradition and the history and the legacy that makes us who we are,” Gamponia said.
The biggest sign of change, they said, is the annual Ball of the Year. Set for Nov. 2, it will be the 60th — and last.
“We are going from the Ball of the Year to the Derby,” Battin said. “So we’re going to be doing a Derby party for the Kentucky Derby in May.”
May 3, to be specific, at the 4T Arena in Bridgeport.
There will be a paddock with horses. The day will culminate with the running of the Derby on a big screen.
And of course, there’s the clothes. Clothes are so important that the Derby website contains a style guide for those who attend the two-day event at Churchill Downs in Louisville. “The star of the show is your head wear, so start there and let the rest of your outfit follow,” it says.
So clothes will be part of the Auxiliary party, too. And mint juleps.
The event doesn’t have an official name yet. They’re still working on the details and logistics, but they said it will be more low-key than the Ball — an afternoon and evening event culminating with the running of the Derby. There will be music in the background, but it won’t feature dancing like the Ball.
The ball annually raises funds for a project to support the hospital. This year’s aims to establish an endowment fund for operation and maintenance of the Caring Cottage project: a set of small buildings each containing two furnished apartments to serve patients and their families coming in for care from out of town.
They broke ground on the first cottage in July and they have the ability to expand to up to six cottages as needed.
The plan for the Derby party will be determined. The Auxiliary’s fiscal year ends in December, so with the 2025 fiscal budget determined in January they should have an idea of what they want to support.
They anticipate a smaller event. The Ball will draw about 600, and the 4T Arena is smaller so they’re projecting an attendance of about 300.
“It’s a little more doable for us to handle it by ourselves as an auxiliary,” Gamponia said.
They didn’t have specifics, but they’ll be starting some new programs, Battin said.
“I think COVID kind of isolated people,” she said, “and kind of took away that sense of the need for community because, you know, you had to be in your home to work.” But the hospital setting is very community oriented.
One plan is a mentorship program for newly arrived physicians and their families, to get them acquainted with Morgantown and what it has to offer.
“And hopefully grow our auxiliary that way, as well,” Gamponia said.
Cultural change has taken a toll on volunteerism, Battin said. “The economy, both parents working and lacking time, grandparents caring for their grandkids or traveling. We’re trying to increase our membership.”
The Auxiliary has about 300 members nationwide, they said, but only about 60 active members.
Auxiliary tidbits
The latest Auxiliary newsletter lists some projects and breaks down sources of revenue.
Among the projects are activity kits for infusion patients, the Care Closet that provides clothing for patients returning home from the hospital, Angel Gowns for stillborns and newborns who don’t survive, Kelsie’s Korner that provides stuffed animals and activities for kids, and the Patient Care Cart for patients staying longer than three days.
Total revenue listed in the 2023-2024 annual report was $362,929. The bulk of that came from the 2023 Ball of the Year, $273,000. Sales and events totaled $89,929.
The top five fundraisers after the Ball were football parking, $24,598; ZERO Prostate Cancer, $20,000; vending machines, $16,248; Trees to Go, $11,330; and designer handbag bingo, $6,217.
TWEET @DominionPostWV
