Oak Ridge Today

In It To Win It game night to benefit Methodist’s Hospitality Houses

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Hospitality Houses
One of the Hospitality Houses is pictured above. (Submitted photo from March 2015)

Are you a trivia buff? Do you like to hum tunes from current playlists or years past? Methodist Medical Center Foundation is hosting its fourth annual In It To Win It” on Saturday, April 27, at Calhoun’s Oak Ridge. Patrons will compete in general trivia and “Sing-o” music games designed to delight and entertain, and they will enjoy a robust buffet provided by Calhoun’s Oak Ridge, a press release said. All proceeds will benefit patients and families at The Hospitality Houses of Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

The Hospitality Houses are supported by MMC Foundation and offer temporary housing that is free of charge for patients and families who travel to Methodist Medical Center for extended medical treatment. This long-time service is possible because of community support, including monetary contributions, donations of food or household goods, and volunteer participation.

[Read more…]

Methodist’s In It to Win It fundraiser earns more than $45,000 for Hospitality Houses

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Dr. Adam Shrewsberry- Junk in the Trunk Champ

Hospitality House Manager Kim Maes presents urologist Adam Shrewsberry, MD, with the “Junk in the Trunk” trophy after he won the special physician challenge, which required him to shake ping pong balls out of a tissue box attached to his waist. (Submitted photo)

 

Second annual fundraiser offered evening of fun and games

The Methodist Medical Center Foundation hosted its second annual “In It to Win It” fundraiser benefiting the Hospitality Houses on Saturday, April 2. Community members, hospital staff, and physicians turned out for the event, which gave guests the opportunity to compete in a series of 60-second party games. Cups, ping pong balls, and pencils were flying as game participants battled to be the first to complete the challenges.

The winners of the six preliminary games had the opportunity to compete for the grand prize: a two-night stay at the Riverside Tower hotel in Pigeon Forge and two tickets to Dollywood. The evening’s big winner was Joey Dembek.

Competing with Dembek for the grand prize were Susan Kuhling, Matt Meslsendori, and Jamie Lesko. These finalists put their hand-eye coordination to the test with the “Tilt-a-Cup” challenge, which required contestants to build a wobbling, hand-held tower of plastic cups separated by ping pong balls. Dembek completed the challenge first to earn the title of “In It to Win It” Champion. [Read more…]

ORNL manufacturing facility part of national effort to make innovations

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Penny Pritzker Tours ORNL Manufacturing Demonstration Facility

U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, second from left, tours Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility in Hardin Valley on Thursday. Also pictured from left are IACMI CEO Craig Blue; Mark Johnson, director of DOE’s office of advanced manufacturing; Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero; and ORNL Director Thom Mason. They are standing next to a Shelby Cobra sports car that was 3D-printed at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

HARDIN VALLEY—The Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is part of a national effort to keep the United States on the cutting edge of research and manufacturing, a federal official said Thursday.

One-third of economic growth comes from innovations, and the United States must continue making new developments, said Penny Pritzker, U.S. commerce secretary.

“Research and manufacturing is not nice to have,” Pritzker said. “It’s a need to have.”

Pritzker toured the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility on Cherahala Boulevard in Hardin Valley on Thursday. It’s part of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation in Knoxville, which was announced by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden during a trip to East Tennessee in January. [Read more…]

Letter: Now is our chance to help MMC Hospitality Houses

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Dear friends and fans,

Are you in it to win it? You know I am! And this time, I’m not talking about a football game. I’m talking about the game of life.

Right here in Oak Ridge, we have a place that’s helping people in need win in the game of life—the Hospitality Houses of Methodist Medical Center. When patients are traveling long distances for medical care or when families from far away need to be close to hospitalized loved ones, the Hospitality Houses are there, free of charge. [Read more…]

Let the games begin: In It to Win It fundraiser gets test run

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

MMC In It to Win It Tic Tac Challenge

In It to Win It Game Master and Assistant Superintendant of Oak Ridge Schools Chris Marczak shakes things up as he attempts to empty the mint containers without using his hands. (Photo by MMC)

 

The Methodist Medical Center Foundation’s fun, new event—“In It to Win It”—is just a week away, but Tic Tacs and rubber bands were already flying when the Games Committee, led by Oak Ridge Schools Assistant Superintendant Chris Marczak, did a test run on Wednesday.

“In It to Win It” features 60-second party games, which take ordinary objects and turn them into challenges between you and your fellow guests. Bring your best sense of balance, coordination, aim, and humor for these creative challenges. [Read more…]

Hospitality Houses keep family close during son’s medical crisis

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Hospitality Houses

One of the Hospitality Houses is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

Submitted

Part of being a parent is letting your children go. You want them to grow up, become independent adults, get a job, “leave the nest.” But when the unthinkable happens, when your independent, self-supporting, adult child is critically ill or hurt, you instantly become that protective parent of bygone years, and your only wish is to be with them and to offer comfort, support, care, and love.

So when Pauline and Sammie Gary got a call from their son Myron saying he’d passed out twice and was going to the emergency room at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, they did what any parent would do, they got in their car and drove the five hours from their home in Aiken, South Carolina.

On their way to the hospital, the Garys were able to speak with Myron’s doctor and nurse, and they learned that their 26-year-old son’s heart had stopped and that he would require a pacemaker. They needed to be by their son’s side during this difficult and scary time, and that’s all they could focus on as they made the trip to Oak Ridge.  [Read more…]