NEW NAME ANNOUNCED Cabell Huntington Children's Hospital Breaks Ground, New Name Announced
Reported by: Bethany Simmons
Videographer: Darrah Wilcox
Web Producer: Bethany Simmons
Also Contributing: Darrah Wilcox
Reported: May. 11, 2012 2:39 PM EDT
Updated: May. 11, 2012 6:49 PM EDT
Eyewitness News Photo
Huntington
, Cabell County
, West Virginia
It's a dream more than five years in the making and today it's one step closer to becoming a reality.
A groundbreaking ceremony took place Friday afternoon for the new Children's Hospital at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
Organizers have been fundraising for five years and to date they have raised more than $11 million dollars and are now ready to move forward with construction plans.
The Hoops Family Foundation, Jeffery and Patricia, their children and grandchildren have pledged the lead gift of $3 million dollars for the project. Friday, Cabell Huntington Hospital officials announced they are naming the Children's Hospital for the Hoops family, "The Hoops Family Children's Hospital". Jeffery Hoops says,
"We're just stewards over what God has blessed us with, and felt like it was our responsibility to give back to the community."
Soon, families won't have to travel hundreds of miles to get the extra tests and procedures for their sick children. Chris McNeely's then 3-year-old son Ethan had a massive stroke, and after spending time at Cabell Huntington, they had to go to Columbus for extra testing. The family is glad that in the future, children can expect even better care, closer to home. He says, "Everyone helping out on this project has been fantastic. It is a vision and a dream. We really can't wait for the hospital to be in place, not to have sick kids, but to make the ones that are sick as comfortable as possible."
Work on the entrance to the Children's Hospital should start early next month.
2 lawsuits filed over runoff from reclaimed mines June 19, 2013 4:55 PM EDT Environmentalists are going after the owners of two more former mountaintop removal mines in West Virginia, hoping to hold them responsible for water pollution from the sites.
4 shot, 3 dead at Kentucky condo shooting June 19, 2013 9:19 PM EDT Louisville police say the shooting that resulted in three deaths and a critical injury at a condominium complex was domestic-related.
Large yacht on truck blocks central Ohio highway June 19, 2013 7:26 PM EDT A large yacht has caused a traffic commotion on land, blocking part of a central Ohio highway during the evening rush hour.
June 13, 2013 Rio Bravo-South Charleston; Pizza Hut-Kanawha City; Fifth Quarter makes the list. Find out who has violations and who gets the Clean Kitchen Award!