“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” This quote, attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, has long been an unofficial motto of the GFWC Bridgeport Junior Woman’s Club, and something its members strive to uphold by volunteering in and raising funds for the community. From awarding scholarships and camp fees to funding school food pantries and various county backpack programs, the GFWC Bridgeport Juniors have worked for over 70 years to make a positive impact in our area.  Now, an upcoming event is bringing new meaning to their favorite quote.

 

The Bridgeport Juniors’ inaugural “Be the Change Ball” will be held on March 2, 2019 at the Bridgeport Conference Center. This Mardi Gras-themed black-tie gala will raise funds for a family care center in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the brand new WVU Medicine Children’s tower, set to open late fall or early winter of 2020.

 

“The GFWC Bridgeport Juniors are part of a greater organization, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs,” explained gala co-chair Anna Matheny.  “Every two years, the West Virginia GFWC announces a new special project that our state members are encouraged to focus on. When we found out that our project was West Virginia’s children’s hospitals, we were all extremely excited to be able to offer ground floor support to the new WVU Medicine Children’s tower in Morgantown. It was perfect timing, and we’re a 501(c)(3) organization now, so we knew we wanted to go big.”

 

This already sold-out event is set to raise $50,000 for the family care center, and any overage will be put toward the greatest needs of the hospital. “When discussing our club’s goals for this project, we quickly and almost unanimously decided on contributing to the NICU because it tugged at our heartstrings. Many of the strong women in our club are moms, several of whom are NICU moms who have experienced this personally,” said gala co-chair Lara Hartzell. “I remember how difficult it was to leave my baby girl in the NICU and go home every night as well as during the frequent shift changes, which is required. This unique space, specific to the NICU, will not only provide a place for families to safely keep their belongings, but a place to step away for a minute, take a hot shower without having to leave the hospital, regroup, relax, unwind, make phone calls, pray, cry, and cope in whatever way works for them,” she added. “It allows them a moment to care for themselves while WVU Medicine Children’s is caring for their loved ones.”

 

The Lucky family of Bridgeport, the “Be the Change Ball” spokesfamily, also knows firsthand the services provided by WVU Medicine Children’s.Says mother Lindsey Lucky, “Our twins were born at 28 weeks.Our surviving twin, Weston, spent 62 days in the NICU. Every day we watched the staff make the seemingly impossible, possible as our baby boy thrived. WVU Medicine Children's did for Weston what we were unable to do. Today our sweet boy is 4 and is in his first year of preschool. Every time we look at him, we are reminded of the angels on earth who made his life possible.”

 

This care center will be part of the new 10-story, $152 million WVU Medicine Children’s tower and ambulatory care center, which will be attached to J. W. Ruby Memorial Hospital to further revolutionize the care of women and children in the region. The tower will provide 150 extra private, inpatient beds and will include a satellite pharmacy, laboratory, respiratory therapy, cafeteria, NICU, PICU, outpatient clinics, operating rooms, cardiac catheterization and endoscopy facilities, acute care unit, state of the art obstetrical unit with potential for expansion, pediatric subspecialty and maternal-fetal medicine clinics and much more.

 

Cheryl Jones, chief nursing officer at WVU Medicine Children’s, will be attending the event. “We are so grateful to the GFWC Bridgeport Juniors for their efforts in support of our work here at WVU Medicine Children’s,” said Jones. “We’re so glad they will have a permanent spot in our new home.  Their generosity shown through this event will help us continue to provide top-quality care close to home for the children and families of West Virginia and beyond.”

 

The “Be the Change Ball” will feature a cocktail hour with New Orleans-style hors d’oeuvres and cash bar, a special champagne toast, silent auction, Mardi Gras-inspired seated dinner with guest speakers, dancing to the sounds of the WVU Jazz Club, prize wheel featuring items such as a Louis Vuitton bag, airfare, $1,000 cash and a weekend at The Greenbrier resort, late night DJ, snack buffet, photo booth and more. Tickets were priced at $150 per couple and $80 per person, and the Bridgeport Juniors are pleased to note that all tickets have been sold.

 

“We have had an incredible outpouring of support and love from the community for this event,” said Latricia Wolfe, gala co-chair. “From our honorary chair, Bridgeport Mayor Andy Lang, to local businesses and families, everyone has been exceptionally receptive to this fundraiser. In fact, we set out to fund a $25,000 locker room and were actually able to revisit that goal and upgrade it to the $50,000 care center, which is larger and includes showers and changing rooms. The generosity of our donors and event sponsors has already guaranteed the success of this event, and we’re ready to start brainstorming again for next year. We are extremely lucky to be a part of this community.”

 

For more information and donation opportunities, please visit www.bethechangeball.com. For more information on WVU Medicine Children’s, please visit www.wvumedicine.org/childrens. For information on membership in the GFWC Bridgeport Junior Woman’s Club, please email club presidents JoAnna Kirk and Jen Randall Reyes at bridgeportjuniors@gmail.com.