The Bladen County Hospital Foundation Gala will be held on Saturday, February 24th, at 6 p.m. at LuMil Vineyard. Ashley Dowless with Cape Fear Valley-Bladen Healthcare, and Sabrina Brooks, Director of Cape Fear Valley Foundation, addressed the Elizabethtown Rotary Club regarding the Gala and why its important for hospitals to be involved in fundraising.
The Gala will feature the band 10 Spot who are from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and play a variety of music from Motown to rock’n’roll and contemporary music. There will also be an elegant meal. For more information on the Gala, Dowless can be reached by calling 910-862-2106.
“This (the Gala) is our biggest fundraiser,” said Dowless. She said the proceeds from the Gala go towards the greatest need at the hospital.
Dowless also provided an update to the Rotarians regarding Cape Fear Valley-Bladen Healthcare. She said the hospital is currently working on continuing education opportunities for their staff and are partnering with Bladen Community College for nursing scholarships.
“We are working to help LPNs graduate to RN with a full scholarship,” said Dowless.
She said the hospital now offers sleep studies here in Bladen County and the hospital also has purchased new telemetry equipment which will be used in providing cardiac rehab services.
“Cardiac rehab is something that is used to strengthen your heart following a heart attack, heart procedure, or anything like that,” said Dowless.
She also said the hospital has hired several new providers. Dr. Sean Hines will be starting at Bladenboro in June; Dr Johnson is at the Bladen Medical Associates Clinic in Elizabethtown, Dr Brevard is working at Bladen Medical Associates at this time and will be at the White Lake Clinic. Elaine Brown is now a PA at Bladen Medical Associates and Dr. Eugene Wright is serving at Bladen Medical Associates in Elizabethtown part-time.
Dowless said some of the services provided by the Foundation include things like a blanket warmer. The blanket warmer allows the staff at the hospital to provide blankets that have been warmed to patients following a procedure.
“The Foundation is a way that we can support the hospital,” said Dowless.
She explained that with so many cuts in funding at the state and federal level, hospitals have to be innovative when it comes to finding funds for various needs.
Sabrina Brooks, Director of the Cape Fear Valley Foundation, also spoke. She explained that she often gets asked why a hospital should raise money. Brooks said the Foundation’s mission is to raise awareness in the community and to increase philanthropic giving.
Brooks said the Foundation raises awareness of the hospital and its mission through things such as speaking at civic groups, attending events and such. Brooks also explained who the Foundation can help in ensuring patients receive the best healthcare through its efforts to assist the hospital in maintaining the most current technology through fundraising and philanthropic giving.
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