Mount Nittany Health Foundation’s 75th Annual Charity Ball raised $507,750 to support the new 10-story patient tower at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
The event celebrating the future of Mount Nittany Health in the Centre Region was held on Feb. 10 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. It was co-chaired by Penn State Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Patrick Kraft and his wife, community volunteer Betsy Kraft.
“We know the importance and value of having a high-quality health care organization in our community,” Patrick Kraft said in a news release. “Betsy’s mother was a nurse, so she grew up seeing firsthand the commitment and passion that goes into caring for neighbors and friends. We’re thrilled we could contribute in our own small way.”
Proceeds from the event will be used to provide state-of-the-art care in the new $350 million patient tower. The 300,000-square-foot addition is under construction on the south side of the medical center and is scheduled to open in 2026.
“Support from the community means the world to the dedicated physicians, nurses and employees of Mount Nittany Health,” Kathleen Rhine, president and CEO of Mount Nittany Health, said in a news release. “And it means everything to your neighbors and friends who count on Mount Nittany Health for their healthcare needs.”
The tower will include 168 private patient rooms and will enable existing semi-private rooms to be converted to single-occupancy, so all of the hospital’s inpatients will have their own room. When completed, Mount Nittany’s bed count will grow by five to 248 and its license for 260 beds will not change.
Plans for the tower also include telemetry capabilities, outpatient clinics, point-of-care registration, a modernized data center, staff amenities, improved storage, outdoor spaces and enhanced dining. A dining terrace will be connected to a new cafeteria and the area around the addition will have natural landscaping with gardens and walking paths.
The Krafts were joined on the Charity Ball committee by Susan Brown, Melissa Hawbaker, Genevieve Hulburt, Dr. Kristie Kaufman and Nancy Silvis. The event was sponsored by 50 businesses and organizations.
The Charity Ball began in 1948 with 600 people attending the event at the Nittany Lion Inn in support of the then-Centre Community Hospital. Today, it continues to support the nonprofit Mount Nittany Health through the leadership of volunteers, business leaders and community members.
