The Mon Health Medical Center Auxiliary recently celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Kathy Pompili, of the auxiliary, said through the projects it has done, the auxiliary has raised $4 million for the hospital.
Now that the calendar is counting down to Christmas, the auxiliary is preparing for its annual Trees To Go program. Pompili has chaired the event for all seven years.
“Last year … we won the state Auxiliary Fundraiser of the Year, which was a real honor for us,” she said.
The 10 trees are designed by different florists and individuals. The decorators are Beth Burns, Bella Fiore Florals, Aimee Tallman, Joyce and Kim Wassick, the auxiliary board in honor of Bill Hennessey, Pompili, Tanya and Jenna Hughes, Zaccagnini’s Morgantown Florist, Anastasia Hilvers-Burns, Kaytie Buckholt and Ashley Burns.
“It’s been very successful. I think the most we’ve made is about $9,000 and all of the proceeds from this event go to enhance patient care,” she said.
The auxiliary gives proceeds from fundraisers to the hospital, where they are used for equipment or services for patient care.
“We build the money up and present a check to the hospital and then they decide what they’re going to use,” Pompili said.
The auxiliary also participates in the Angel Fund, which gives money to buy wigs, hats and scarves for cancer patients.
“Wherever the hospital lets us know there is a need, we try to help out with,” she said.
Businesses in the community sponsor the trees. The decorators decorate them. Pompili said the trees are always different and always beautiful.
Friday will be the last chance to purchase raffle tickets to win the trees. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. Ticket holders can place their tickets in a box by the tree they want to take home. The drawing is noon Friday.
“All the decorations are hardwired on, so they have a chance to win a decorated tree and take it home fully decorated,” she said.
Pompili said it’s one of the most popular programs the auxiliary has done.
“People just love it, and the thing that we like about is it just puts a smile on patients and families and the staff at Mon Health,” she said.
“It just makes everybody happy because they look so pretty when you walk through the front door.”
Bad Lizard Granite is the event sponsor. Tree sponsors are KLM Properties, Andy and Cindy Heiskell, Daris and Cindy Rosencrance, Clear Mountain Bank, Mon Health Administration, Longview Power, John and Chris Battin, Kathy DeBone, Eckels/Coy Insurance and First United Bank.
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