MVH Galactica Gala 30

The Place: The Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh hotel, Downtown, Saturday night.

The Party: The Monongahela Valley Hospital’s 30th annual gala was an out-of-this-world party featuring a “Star Wars” theme for “Galactica Night.” Nearly 600 guests mingled with a few stormtroopers and one Darth Vader during both the president’s reception and the general cocktail reception before the music of Finesse filled the grand ballroom. Event co-chair Sara Schumacher welcomed everyone. Cochair and fund development chair Dr. S.P. Hewie and board chair Carlyn Belczyk also talked about the support MVH gets from the community. Instead of an honoree this year the creation of the Monongahela Valley Hospital Foundation was announced. “The new hospital foundation is a wonderful opportunity for our community to give back to the hospital,” said MVH president Louis Panza (with Cheryl). “Every year this event keeps growing and growing. It just amazes me, and the people are so generous,” he noted. The evening raised $155,000 for the hospital. “The goal of our event is to have fun,” he said.

The People: Feeling the force of fun were David Hunter and Debbie Summers, Karen Quinto, Kevin and Marissa Lee, Jeff and Michelle Kotula, Dr. Doug and Maria Pepper, Dr. Michael and Celeste Lementowski, Dr. John and Joan Holets, Melissa and Brett Marion, Kurt Salvatori and Jennifer Quesenberry, Albert and Barbara Neupaver, Matt and Samantha Pitzarella and Patti Simmons.