Miracle Journey Gala Cancelled | Online Auction to Go Live
Update regarding Children’s Miracle Network gala benefitting Penn State Children’s Hospital
As you know, our number one priority is the health and wellness of the children and families we serve and to you – our Miracle Partners. After much consideration including engagement from our administration, epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists, we regret to inform you that our Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Journey Gala scheduled for March 28 at the AACA Museum in Hershey has been canceled. This difficult decision is being made in response to COVID-19 and the commitment by Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine to make sure our community, patients, families and staff remain our highest priority.
Due to the extensive logistics involved with this event, it will not be rescheduled.
Our gala theme is about the Miracle Journeys of our patients. The “journey” to this event has taken a big detour. We are hopeful that you will still consider helping us make more miracles possible for the children and families we serve.
While we share in your disappointment about not being able to gather to celebrate, there are several ways we can work together to raise critical funds to help sick and injured children at Penn State Children’s Hospital.
Our online silent auction will go live March 20 at 9 a.m. until March 28 at 9 p.m. You can register to bid on hundreds of fantastic items including Brian Dawkins signed footballs, Penn State football tickets, family fun packages, a grill, one-of-a kind baskets and novelty items and so much more. We’ll send separate communication about the online silent auction launch and invite you to share with your intended guests, colleagues, family and friends.
During the event, we typically ask guests to make a direct donation to fund programs like Child Life, Music Therapy, Medical Camps, life-saving equipment and more. You may still make that gift here.
With the cancellation of this event, your ticket purchase is now considered a fully charitable contribution. Should you desire, we will refund the cost of goods and services, which is $100. Please contact me by Friday, March 27 if you would like to request a refund.
Had we gathered, we would have shared the Miracle Journey stories that several of our patients have taken. Keeping with the theme of our venue, the AACA Museum, we were going share how our miracle children have lots of “baggage in their car.” Some baggage is positive – like a family vacation. Some baggage is difficult – like a new medical diagnosis or hospitalization. We’re choosing to see this setback as a bump in the road – a simple detour. With your continued support, we can reach our destination! We remain committed to doing all we can to save kids’ lives and make their journeys a little bit easier.
We would like to extend a special thanks to our gala event committee for helping to plan this event over the last year-and-a-half, our miracle families involved in the program, Brian Dawkins, emcee Earl David Reed, volunteers and the inspiring list of sponsors below.
There is no “us” without you!
For inquiries, please contact Danielle Sunday, Director of Children’s Miracle Network at
717-531-5692 or dsunday@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
