CHILDREN'S GALA TO BE HELD IN VALLEY

San Benito  –- The 6th Annual Children’s Gala to be held Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Cameron County Fairgrounds in San Benito will benefit Valley children through the establishment of a Pediatric Emergency Department at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen and renovation of the pediatric unit at Valley Baptist in Brownsville.

This family event, which will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 27, will include fun events for children of all ages, under a western “Yeehaw!” theme. “Cowboy”-type events will include a mini rodeo, pony rides, horseshoe contests, gunny sack races, a mechanical bull, and music by the Texas Drifters. There will also be a petting zoo for the children to enjoy.
The evening will also be entertaining for parents, with a dinner and live auction for a wide variety of items, ranging from a lobby website system valued at $10,000 donated by MPC Studios, Inc., a lasik eye surgery procedure donated by Dr. Raul Peña, San Antonio and South Padre getaways, a catered party, great birthday party packages and more. New to the gala this year is a raffle (with only 300 tickets to be sold), with first prize being a free trip for four to anywhere Southwest Airlines flies, valued at $5,800.
The new Pediatric Emergency Dept. at VBMC-Harlingen will provide a “kid-friendly” atmosphere, with its own waiting area and a specialized staff of doctors and nurses, to make for a faster and less-frightening experience when children must be brought in for emergency care. The renovations at VBMC-Brownsville will include adding a playroom and creating a more child-friendly atmosphere in patient rooms, hallways, etc. Both projects will begin construction later this year.
Smith-Reagan Insurance Agency and Swetnam Insurance Services, LLP are serving as Title Sponsors for the gala. For more information on the gala, including ticket prices, please contact Judy Quisenberry in the Valley Baptist Foundation at (956) 389-1614 or by e-mail at judy.quisenberry@valleybaptist.net.