The 2nd annual Circus Saints and Sinners Party on the Plaza music festival in July was a big success, enabling the civic organization to donate $30,000 to WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital.
The gift is part of a $150,000 commitment the group made last year for the construction of the brand-new 150-bed specialty hospital in Morgantown.
Event chairman Paul Smith said the new festival has received strong support from the community in its first two years.
“We had over a thousand attendees and 40 corporate sponsors this past July,” Smith said. “Starting a brand-new festival in 2021, while coming out of the pandemic, we weren’t sure what to expect. But in two years we’ve been able to establish the Party on the Plaza as one of the premiere Summer events in Wheeling and raise $65,000 for a very worthy cause. We’re extremely pleased with the response.”
Bob Contraguerro, Jr., of presenting sponsor Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, said the mission of WVU Medicine Children’s is critical to the health and well-being of women and children in the local area and throughout the entire region.
“When families in Wheeling and the surrounding area need specialty maternal, infant, and pediatric care, they turn to children’s hospital,” Contraguerro said. “So many of our friends and neighbors in need benefit from having cutting edge healthcare so close to home, and we’re committed to helping support that.”
The new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital will open to patients on September 29. A ribbon cutting and tour of the facility will be held September 24.
In recognition of the organization’s support, the waiting and reception area of the diagnostic and imaging floor has been named for Circus Saints and Sinners.
