BennettStrong Foundation Set to Host Inaugural Gala

The BennettStrong Foundation is set to host its inaugural gala on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Northampton Valley Country Club in Richboro, Pa. The gala is a black tie optional event and will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception.

The evening will feature keynote speaker David A. Munson, MD.  Dr. Munson serves as the Medical Director for the Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit (N/IICU) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He also directs the Perinatal Palliative Care Initiative in the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at CHOP.

This year’s gala will help support the BennettStrong Foundation’s N/IICU project at CHOP.   All proceeds raised will go towards providing N/IICU parent survival kits for all inpatient families in the N/IICU at CHOP.  Through the CHOP Foundation, BennettStrong is committed to a $25,000 five-year plan to support parents and families experiencing neonatal intensive care.  BennettStrong is hoping to provide tools to help parents strengthen their abilities to bond with their baby and advocate for their child with the child’s medical team.

“We spent almost eight months in the N/IICU at CHOP with our son, Bennett,” said Mary Pellegrino, Co-Founder of BennettStrong Foundation.  “We’re excited to be able to give back to a hospital that has given so much to us.  We’re even more excited to be able to support parents in ways we were supported during our N/IICU roller coaster ride. One can never fully understand the N/IICU journey unless you’ve experienced it firsthand and we don’t want any parent to feel alone while their baby is fighting for their life in the N/IICU.”

Great Big House (GBH) will provide the musical entertainment for the evening.  GBH is a horn powered, groove driven, high energy band from Philadelphia.  Gala attendees should expect a lot of dancing and great music.  Also, Kevin Casey, the voice of the Philadelphia Union and LaSalle basketball, will serve as emcee.  His high energy and warm personality should be a great source of entertainment throughout the evening.

Throughout the evening gala attendees will have the opportunity to win a variety of raffle baskets given by generous donors within the community.   Baskets include tickets to sporting events, hotel getaways, and even a chance to stay at a luxury beach house in Avalon, N.J.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at www.bennettstrong.org or click hereCost of the event is $75 per person.  Donors interested in supporting the event with raffle items or donations can email at bennettstrongfoundation@gmail.com (.)

The BennettStrong Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and its mission is to provide support to families of medically complex children.

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