Monongahela Valley Hospital Welcomes the 2015 Holiday Season

Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 December 2015 02:29

A lighted balloon release, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Christmas carols, Jasmine from Aladdin, colorful decorations and a 7-foot-tall Frosty the Snowman entertained patients watching from their windows as well as nearly 1,000 community members who gathered for Monongahela Valley Hospital’s (MVH) 31st Annual Light-Up Night on Nov. 23.

Jason Welsh and Kage Tillman flip the switch

“I look forward to this event every year because it brings us together as a community, said Louis J. Panza Jr., MVH’s president and CEO. “Everyone here lives in different areas but the one thing you all have in common is that you trust Monongahela Valley Hospital for your medical care.”

The evening’s grand moment came as two lucky children flipped the giant light switch, lighting the two-story tree and several acres of decorations throughout campus. Randomly chosen from among MVH employees’ children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews ages 5 to 10, the boys who flipped the giant switch were:

• Jaxson Welsh, age 6, son of Jason and Karissa Welsh of Elizabeth Township. He is a first-grader at Greenock Elementary. Jaxson’s grandmother, Fern Martinez, is an MVH miscellaneous clerk.
• Kage Tillman, age 5, son of Tiffany Rands, tray aide, Nutrition and Food Service. They live in Charleroi. He is in kindergarten at the Charleroi Area Elementary Center.
Charleroi High School’s Show Choir, under the direction of Ms. Laura Piecknick, entertained the crowd before the lights were turned on. Members of the school’s marching band led Santa and Mrs. Claus onto the campus.

Throughout the evening, members of the Auxiliary of Mon-Vale Health Resources, Inc. sold baked goods and hot dogs.

Adding to the burst of colors were lighted necklaces worn by practically every child in attendance. The necklaces were donated by Joseph’s Nursery & Garden Center in Monessen.

Visit MVH’s Facebook page to view the countdown video and photo album from the event at www.facebook.com/Monvalleyhospital.

MVHLightUp.jpg: At Monongahela Valley Hospital’s Annual Light-Up Night celebration, 6-year old Jaxson Welsh (left) and 5-year old Kage Tillman flipped the giant light switch to light up the holiday decorations throughout several acres of the hospital’s campus. MVH President and CEO Louis J. Panza Jr. led the countdown.