STATE COLLEGE — The 69th annual Mount Nittany Medical Center Charity Ball, “A Starlit Evening on the Serengeti,” raised a record $200,000 for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Center County at Mount Nittany Health.
More than 600 attendees gathered at The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center for the Feb. 11 event, which was chaired by Melissa Hawbaker and co-chaired by Gina Woskob.
Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception featuring musical entertainment by Yamoussa Camara Drum and Dance, followed by African-themed cuisine stations and EBE Events and Entertainment’s Monte Carlo, a Philadelphia-based dance band.
According to a press release from Mount Nittany Health, corporate sponsors, individual donations ticket sales, an online auction and the Mercedes-Benz European Driving Adventure Raffle helped to make the evening a success. The raffle raised more than $22,000, and the online auction raised a record total of $47,000.
“I have been fortunate to work alongside so many dedicated and caring charity ball committee members over the past three years,’ said Hawbaker. ‘A good committee is paramount to the success in raising funds and in creating a special evening to celebrate our cause and our community.
‘We are thankful for organizations like the Children’s Advocacy Center that help children and families during a time of great need.”
The Children’s Advocacy Center serves children with reports of abuse or neglect, and those who may have witnessed abuse. Through a child-centered approach, the center is a safe and friendly place where children, families and all parties involved in the intervention and investigative process can work in partnership.
The center’s mission is to provide a community-based, child-focused center for the prevention, identification, intervention and treatment of child abuse. Services are provided at no cost to families in Centre, Clinton, Mifflin, Huntington and Blair counties.
The proceeds from the charity ball directly benefit children who experience abuse, with the goal of giving those in need access to nationally recognized services and specialized care.
“Every time we serve a family or a child — every time that a child is heard — that matters. When we hear from families who are grateful that we’re here to help that makes us feel successful,” said Kristina Taylor-Porter, director of the Children’s Advocacy Center. “I am so proud of the roots that have been established, but going forward, the Children’s Advocacy Center will still rely heavily on the support of the community.”
For more information on the Children’s Advocacy Center, visit www.mountnittany.org/childadvocacycenter. For more information on the Mount Nittany Health Foundation, visit www.foundation.mountnittany.org.
