Auxiliary, Club Touching Hearts

George Nianiatus, senior writer
Communications Department

If supporting two worthy community causes while getting a chance to dance and have your plate piled high with delectable food sounds appealing, the “Touching Hearts, Changing Lives” fundraiser will be a must-attend event in early February.

The fundraiser, slated for Saturday, Feb. 7, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Grace Lutheran Church Community Life Center, 79 Mechanic St., partners Bradford Hospital Auxiliary and the AKtion Club as event co-sponsors.

Proceeds from the Valentine’s Day-type dance will benefit the Auxiliary, whose goal is to support Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), and also the AKtion Club, a Kiwanis-sponsored organization for adults with disabilities.

The Auxiliary made its largest pledge in history of $300,000 to support BRMC’s Capital Campaign. A $60,000 donation by the Auxiliary was made last year toward its five-year pledge amount.

Meanwhile, the AKtion Club is Bradford’s newest community service club that’s already made an impact by helping with Hanley Park renovation work and assisting The Salvation Army with its Kettle Drive.

The upcoming dance, which includes music by EJ the DJ and a large video screen for added visual effects, is intended to have wide community interest, say organizers. A large hors d’oeuvres buffet will be catered by the Kennedy Street Café.

The cost to attend is $50, which provides a ticket for the purchaser and also sponsors an adult with a disability to attend. For each ticket purchased, $25 is tax-deductible, say organizers.

Corporate and community sponsorships are available to support the event as well. Those interested can contact Virginia Hauser, the Auxiliary’s executive director, at her office at 362-8582.

“This dance brings an exciting twist to the community,” says Mrs. Hauser. “It will be one of the most fun-filled events of the year.” What’s more, “By attending, you’ll be helping to financially support the Auxiliary and its fundraising mission, including healthcare scholarships, as well as enable the AKtion Club to pursue its community-service interests,” Mrs. Hauser explains.

When the possibility arose for the Auxiliary and the AKtion Club to work together in organizing a dual-purpose fundraiser, there was little hesitation by either group.

“It was a resounding yes. That was our response when the Auxiliary was approached with the idea of partnering with the newly formed AKtion Club for this year’s event,” says Vonda Reese, the Auxiliary’s vice president.

“Recognizing the economic challenges that many organizations face today, we accepted the offer of the AKtion Club to assist with our fundraising efforts this year,” Mrs. Reese says.

“Touching Hearts, Changing Lives is exactly what we hope to achieve the weekend before Valentine’s Day. The impact on our committee’s hearts has already been felt. The level of enthusiasm Mike Walter and Chelsea Albright (the AKtion Club’s president and vice president, respectively) bring as officers of their new club is incredible. From menu planning to music selection, their level of participation and
commitment to the success of this project is evident,” Mrs. Reese adds.

“We are really looking forward to helping out with this project,” says Mr. Walter. “It’s a good project for the AKtion Club because there are a lot of things we can do to help out. We have been meeting with the Auxiliary to help with the planning.”

Referring to the event that will ultimately help support BRMC and also the AKtion Club, Mr. Walter says, “It’s a good cause that’s important for everyone. Every time that I hear a helicopter come and go, I think about how important BRMC is to Bradford.”

He notes, “I think the dance will be a lot of fun for everyone who attends. You’ll be able see a lot of your friends and help out the hospital.”

Tickets are available at HeartStrings Gift Shop, located in the Outpatient Services Center lobby of BRMC, Northwest Savings Bank offices, or by calling HeartStrings at 362-8582.

(In the photo, courtesy of BRMC, Mike Walter, AKtion Club president, and Virginia Hauser, Bradford Hospital Auxiliary’s executive director, display a poster which publicizes the upcoming fundraiser, ‘Touching Hearts, Changing Lives,’ slated for Feb. 7 at the Grace Lutheran Church Community Life Center.)