Talk of the Town July 31, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
This is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown to Klucksburg.
If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call the show
toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two five five. Now Here is your host for the
Talk of the Town, Mike Notlting.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
A good Thursday morning. It is nine oh seven in
the University City, a few clouds and seventy eight degrees
as we begin the show. This is Talk of the
Town on AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point five,
and welcome to the programmer. It's all about you, your
family and the community at large. I am Mike Nolting.

(00:45):
You'll find me on x as your news guy, and
let's see. We'd love to get your input throughout the
program today. We've got a text line in order for
you to do that. You can do that by texting
three zero four Talk three zero four, or if you'd
rather speak to someone in person. Ethan Collins is our
producer today and you'll be able to reach him at

(01:07):
eight hundred seven six five TALK. That's eight hundred seven
sixty five eight two five five. It is July the
thirty first, and that means that it is a Miracle
treat Day. Now, what happens today, go to Dairy Queen,
get a blizzard. Then they will make a donation to
WVU Children's Hospital. And we're going to welcome a representative

(01:31):
from WVU Children's Hospital to the program later today, and
we're also going to dive into that promotion. We're going
to do that at nine point fifteen. Talk to someone
from the hospital at nine to thirty. Let's take a
look at a couple of headlines of the Mond County
Commissions made it official they are in opposition to the

(01:51):
proposed high voltage line from PA to Virginia that will
go through portions of Mount and Preston Counties. Now the
purpose of the line is power a data center in Virginia.
Commissioners called it an easy decision, saying there are really
no benefits to the land owners or the state or
the local or state economy. All firefighters in Harrison County

(02:14):
responded to a camper fire earlier this morning. That was
on Wilsonburg Road in Clarksburg. It is not known if
there was anyone in that camper. No word on injuries,
and no other information has been released. It's back on
the road today for new WVU president Michael T. Benson.
He's on his eighteen county tour before the start of

(02:36):
the fall semester. Benson met with Kennaugh count of Kanoff
Valley business leaders and the we at the West Virginia
Technology Park. He did that Wednesday evening, twenty seventh, President
of the state's the Land Grant Institution, will visit Jackson
Mill Jackson's Mill in Lewis County. That'll happen later today.

(02:57):
Governor Patrick Morrissey came to the Metal Brooke Mall Wednesday
afternoon to announce the annual sales tax holiday that begins tomorrow.
Of the holiday it'll go through Wednesday, takes the sales
tax off certain items that are associated with back to
school shopping. Of The first day of classes in Mond
County will be the nineteenth of August. And don't forget

(03:20):
WVU move in date for the fall semester that begins
on the sixteenth of August. You can read more and
get a little few more details on what exactly you
can save on at wvmetronews dot com. And don't forget
today is the last day that the Niosh Mobile black

(03:42):
lung screening unit will be at Myland Park. They're open
right now and they will be open through four point
thirty this afternoon, right there in front of the community
building where the Mind Rescue contest is being held. And
the Governor's back on the road today. He'll be a
tamera this afternoon. He's scheduled for a three pm presser

(04:04):
and a ninety percent chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout
the day Today. Looks like it's gonna get pretty warm too,
just about eighty five degrees now once the storms move through.
Looks like it's gonna be a great weekend Tomorrow, partly
sunny in a high in the seventies. The same for Saturday,
and it looks like Sunday as well. Coming up next,

(04:29):
we're gonna talk about Miracle Treat Day on top of
the Town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point
five w AJR.

Speaker 1 (04:50):
Now back to the Talk of the Town. O.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
Good Thursday morning. It is nine fifteen and get a
issu you a blizzard warning Here in the studio. The
folks from Dairy Queen just dropped off eight blizzards as
part of Miracle Treat Day. And in studio we've got
the district manager with Dairy Queen. Billy, Good morning, Billy,

(05:16):
how are you?

Speaker 3 (05:16):
I'm good? How are you?

Speaker 2 (05:18):
I'm doing great? Thank you very much. And then we
also have the corporate person, Angela. Angela, how are you good?

Speaker 4 (05:25):
Are you?

Speaker 2 (05:26):
I am doing good? First, now refresh my memory. It's
very very short. You are.

Speaker 4 (05:32):
I'm the director operations for BFS Dairy Queen.

Speaker 5 (05:34):
Okay, and Billy, I'm the district manager for Dairy Queen.

Speaker 2 (05:37):
And how many stores do you manage? I manage seven
seven stores. Okay, that's full time job I've taken.

Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yepke's me busy, just kidding.

Speaker 2 (05:47):
Okay, you brought in blizzards today. Tell us what you brought.
What are the folks here in the office enjoying.

Speaker 5 (05:53):
We brought peanut butter cup Oreo, Superman and the new
blizzard of the month, Carmel Craze.

Speaker 2 (06:00):
Okay, what Superman.

Speaker 3 (06:02):
It's like a blue.

Speaker 5 (06:03):
Bass with sprinkles and a sugar cookie doff.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
So it's all about the color.

Speaker 3 (06:08):
It's all about the color.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
Ok all right, Now, what's the secret to making a
good blizzard? Uh?

Speaker 3 (06:15):
Soft serve yep, that's the secret. And the candy Okay.

Speaker 2 (06:20):
Okay, how many blizzards seriously, how many blizzards are you
preparing for today? Does this day increase your production?

Speaker 3 (06:29):
It absolutely does.

Speaker 5 (06:30):
We made two hundred and twenty eight for the hospital already,
so we'll be blending all day.

Speaker 2 (06:35):
Did you bring in any extra help today?

Speaker 3 (06:37):
Yep, we sharedd DD did you really?

Speaker 2 (06:39):
Yeah, that's great, that's great. Okay, Now, Angela, I have
information It says that this day can raise up to
one hundred thousand dollars for WVU Medicine Children's.

Speaker 4 (06:53):
Yeah, so nationwide. This is a nationwide day. So we
have actually a total fifteen restaurants local Darry Queen local
restaurants here. So we partner up with the Children's Mimical
Network all year, but for today, all our fifteen restaurants
will be blending blizzards like you said, and for every
single blizzard that we sell, we donate a dollar back.

Speaker 2 (07:12):
Okay, So, uh, do you have to check your blizzard
machines before today and make sure because you know that's
the big it's a big complaint whenever you go to McDonald's. Nope, sorry,
can't help you.

Speaker 3 (07:24):
Yep, we made sure everything was ready.

Speaker 2 (07:26):
Okay, All right, Hey, Angela, I guess so why why
do you guys do this.

Speaker 4 (07:33):
I mean, the real question is why would we not?

Speaker 2 (07:35):
Right?

Speaker 4 (07:35):
So it's local, it's children's. I say this every time
someone asked me this question. Most of us are moms
or have kids around us, and you know, some unfortunately
end up with children's. So it's definitely a cause close
to our hearts. So why not?

Speaker 2 (07:50):
And I guess for you? Do you go to the hospital?
Do you do events there as?

Speaker 4 (07:56):
Yeah, we partner with them. BFS is great about giving back.
We partner with Children's all year round. You know, we
feed the families in different ways. We partner with Childrens
for different events. You know. Earlier this year we did
Free Cone Day, which we give away free cones and
ask for a donation for Children's and raised a couple
of thousand that way. So yeah, we do different things
throughout the year.

Speaker 2 (08:17):
Now, how long have you been doing this? Particular the
Miracle Treat Day? How long has that been going on?

Speaker 4 (08:23):
So Dairy Queen Corporate has been doing it for about
forty plus years, and I know we comply with everything
they do. So from the day one that BFS opened
these we've been participating as well.

Speaker 2 (08:33):
Uh huh Okay, Now I guess tell me about the blizzard.

Speaker 4 (08:38):
The blizzard. I mean again, it's any size, so you
can get many all the way up to a large
that you come in and it's what you want. I mean,
we have some suggestions, like Billy said, but the reality
is it's what you want.

Speaker 2 (08:49):
And then what's the donation or the gets what goes
to WVU Medicine Children's with each purchase.

Speaker 4 (08:57):
So we we will donate back a dollar. So if
the customer wants to donate more, that's great, but we
will donate a dollar for every blizzard we sell.

Speaker 2 (09:05):
Okay, Now you said that this goes on year round.
Why then don't we hear more about that. Why do
we hear about it just on Miracle treat Day?

Speaker 4 (09:16):
Sure? Yeah, so year round we do different types of fundraising.
Miracle Treat Day is the only day that we will
donate a dollar back to, but there's different events that
we do throughout the year that we give money back to.

Speaker 2 (09:25):
Okay, Okay, Now let's see. There is a new location,
I believe in the Brookhaven area. Tell us about that.

Speaker 5 (09:35):
It just opened in January and it's booming. So it's
one of our highest volume stores and the fans love it. There,
they are very glad that we open that area.

Speaker 2 (09:49):
And what are your hours?

Speaker 3 (09:51):
We are open ten to ten, okay.

Speaker 2 (09:53):
And what is your suggestion in terms of a blizzard flavor?

Speaker 3 (10:00):
Yes, absolutely, Superman, Superman, Superman.

Speaker 2 (10:03):
Well, what does it taste like cookie dough? Is that
what it is?

Speaker 1 (10:06):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (10:06):
It tastes like cake batter? Really?

Speaker 2 (10:08):
Okay? Okay? And now do you both have children? I do,
and I assume that they're all healthy and everything is good,
which is which is a great thing. But you did
bring up the fact that there are parents that do
need WVU Medicine Children's Hospital, and prior to WVU Medicine

(10:31):
Children's being there, that travel to get the care that
young people needed was certainly much greater, maybe into Pennsylvania, Maryland,
even into Ohio to the children's hospital there. So we're
certainly very very lucky to have that type of a
resource here in the city of Morgantown. And now Miracle

(10:56):
Treat Day, will it'll go till ten o'clock tonight?

Speaker 4 (10:59):
Right?

Speaker 2 (11:00):
Any limit? That's dumb question, isn't it. Billy's over there
saying the limits? What are you talking about?

Speaker 3 (11:07):
Limit?

Speaker 2 (11:07):
Now? What about do you get bonuses?

Speaker 3 (11:11):
Bonuses?

Speaker 6 (11:12):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (11:12):
There's I think the highest donation.

Speaker 4 (11:17):
You mean the stores get. Yeah, we do some internal
contests to kind of get it going. And Chiltern's is great.

Speaker 3 (11:23):
They have a.

Speaker 4 (11:23):
Trophy that they give out to the highest store. So yeah,
well there's there'll be a nice little prize for who
raises the most.

Speaker 2 (11:29):
Okay, so who owns the trophy at this point?

Speaker 4 (11:32):
Unfortunately, not one of our stores, not a BFS owned store.
But this year we're coming for it all.

Speaker 2 (11:37):
Right, Uh BFS Stairy Queen. I've never heard that relationship before.
Tell me about that.

Speaker 4 (11:43):
Yeah, so we're owned by BFS Companies. Local company, you know,
Marshall Bishop is a local guy. He likes to keep
his stores and money where he is, so he loves
giving back. We own fifteen Dairy Queen's currently, I'm going
to open a couple more we open. We own a
lot of different brands, Little Caesars, Tim Horton's. Most people
don't know that we own.

Speaker 2 (12:04):
Oh i'll be dark. Now where will the news stores go?
Can you? Can you?

Speaker 4 (12:08):
Sure?

Speaker 5 (12:08):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (12:08):
The next one's actually gonna be Cranberry, Pa. So not
not anywhere close. And then we have grant Sill, Maryland.
But we are looking at another top secret in Morgantown
early next year. So oh, so there will be another.

Speaker 2 (12:19):
One local top secret.

Speaker 4 (12:20):
Yeah, that one I can't give out.

Speaker 2 (12:21):
Okay, okay, no problem. Now, Tim Hortons, I've heard people
say that that's kind of like the a Canadian Wendy's.

Speaker 4 (12:31):
Wendy's, I would say, Canadian Starbucks. So it's coffee donuts.
We'll bring you some donuts. It's it's it's a good product.
It's a very good product. So we have four of
those locally and then one in Weird in West Virginia.

Speaker 2 (12:42):
Now, how do they do?

Speaker 4 (12:44):
They do well? I mean it's it's a really again,
sounds like you've never had it, so we'll bring it
to you. So it's a very good product. So it
does well, and we're looking forward to continue that brand
as well.

Speaker 2 (12:54):
All right, perfect, Well, ladies, I tell you, Miracle Treat
Day goes on until ten o'clock to night. You can
head out to the dairy queen in brook Haven. Well,
what's that address, fifteen brook Brook Brookhaven Road. Well, it's
right there at the intersection of Route seven and I

(13:14):
sixty eight.

Speaker 4 (13:15):
But they can go to any of our dairy queens.
But yes, that's the closest to you.

Speaker 2 (13:18):
Okay, okay, where are the others at? Oh, there's one
in the Suncrest town Sence.

Speaker 3 (13:24):
I'll be there.

Speaker 4 (13:24):
Yeah, go see Billy. There's cheat Lake, there's Westover, Fairmont, Clarksburg,
so they're all over.

Speaker 2 (13:32):
Okay, all right, and once again, purchase a Blizzard Today.
They're going to chip in a dollar to WVU Medicine
Children's Hospital and that will last all day today. Now,
it says that in the information that you've given me
more than one hundred and seventy unique Blizzard treat flavors

(13:54):
created since the launch. How do you determine to get
rid of a flavor? I mean that would seem to
be a tough, tough decision to make.

Speaker 4 (14:04):
Yeah, I don't think we ever really get rid of
a flavor. Well, I guess it's not. The Superman actually
is only limited time. So once that runs out, it
runs out, and then they'll they'll bring some specialty every
few times a year. So once some of these items
run out, unfortunately you can't get it again.

Speaker 2 (14:18):
Okay, okay, Now, tell us about some of the some
of the summer menu specials.

Speaker 5 (14:24):
Yeah, Wizards, Yeah, we have cotton candy. We have s'mores,
the strawberry up, Cheesecake, Superman, and the Caramel Craze.

Speaker 2 (14:34):
Okay, okay, now what is a mixing bowl mashup?

Speaker 3 (14:39):
We do have mapup? I missed that one.

Speaker 2 (14:41):
Well what is it? I was hoping you'd say it
because I wanted to.

Speaker 3 (14:45):
It is a brownie batter and cookie dough.

Speaker 2 (14:48):
Oh okay, okay, well that that sounds pretty good. Now
let's see what what else do we need to talk about? Ladies.

Speaker 4 (14:57):
We're excited for people to come out. I mean, and
you're already gonna get a sweet treat, so why not
give back while you're doing it. So we're excited to
donate back and make some Blizzards and have fun doing
it and look forward to seeing a lot of faces.

Speaker 2 (15:11):
Now let's see. I'm sure it can people just make
a donation.

Speaker 4 (15:16):
Absolutely, they can either just come in and donate. We
can round up your check if you're getting some items.
We're selling some different coupons in the stores, so there's
there's many different ways to donate.

Speaker 2 (15:26):
Okay, okay, perfect, And do you have a favorite Blizzard Angela?

Speaker 4 (15:32):
You know I'm pretty classic. Mind's the oreo?

Speaker 2 (15:35):
Oh okay, all right. You know, I always like the
chocolate covered cherries, but that's one of the ones that
you can't get, No, you can't get.

Speaker 4 (15:43):
Yeah, sure you'll find a way for you.

Speaker 2 (15:47):
I'm sure there's a way to get a little bit
of anything done, especially when you're the district manager. Right yep, right,
all right, well that's good. Now, will you be making
any blizzards yourself today?

Speaker 3 (16:03):
I absolutely will be.

Speaker 2 (16:05):
What about you, Angela?

Speaker 4 (16:06):
Of course, I've been practicing all year.

Speaker 2 (16:08):
I'm ready, you're ready, Okay, put me in coach what
she says? Okay, all right, ladies, Well, really do appreciate
your time and certainly what you're doing to raise money
and awareness for WVU Medicine Children's Hospital. We know that
that was about a one hundred and ninety million dollar

(16:28):
building that was built with nothing but donations and certainly
serves the younger folks that are dealing with sometimes catastrophic
and traumatic illnesses across the state and providing an opportunity
for those people to get that treatment right here in

(16:52):
the Mountain State, in the city of Morgantown, without having
to travel anywhere to do it. Okay, So you're looking
for any help, Billy.

Speaker 3 (17:01):
I absolutely, am, yes, please, all right, Well.

Speaker 5 (17:04):
What.

Speaker 2 (17:05):
This is radio? So what can you tell me about
the jobs? What do they pay and what are the hours?
And how quick can I get hired?

Speaker 3 (17:15):
You can get hired quickly.

Speaker 5 (17:18):
We have all shifts available, so we try to fit
you know what your schedule is and what you need.

Speaker 3 (17:23):
We try to work with you the best we can.

Speaker 5 (17:25):
We start our career out at twelve and our management
you know, it's based all on your experience.

Speaker 2 (17:30):
Okay, And what do you need to be able to do?
Do you have to lift fifty pounds and walk five miles?

Speaker 5 (17:37):
We have different areas for everyone, so we have cake decorating.
You can stand there and take orders and not lift
anything if you want, so we have it fit for everyone.

Speaker 2 (17:47):
You know, I'm glad you brought those up, those cakes. Yeah,
tell me about the really you can you do customs?

Speaker 3 (17:58):
We do custom cakes.

Speaker 2 (18:00):
Yeah, okay, okay, So if I just if I just
roll up and say, you know, I want something that says,
you know, Mike's the greatest, you can put it right
there on the right there for you, right in front
of me.

Speaker 3 (18:10):
Absolutely, okay, all.

Speaker 2 (18:12):
Right, well I guess that that cuts down on any
kind of misspellings and and and missed or wrong messages. Well,
ladies really do appreciate you bringing in the blizzards. I'm
sure that the folks in the office are enjoying them

(18:32):
and want to make sure that folks take advantage of
this opportunity to it's going to be hot today, get
yourself a blizzard cool off and support WVU Medicine Children's Hospital.
And now that one hundred thousand dollars figure that that
is year to date.

Speaker 4 (18:51):
Yes, so that would be dairy queen all across the board.

Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yep, okay, okay, all across the board. So it's your
turn to chip in and help out a great cause.
And when we come back, I've got a representative from
WVU Medicine Children's Hospital. You know they've been around, I
believe you know, it's hard to believe, but three or
four years.

Speaker 1 (19:13):
Now we are talking about your town. Now back to
the talk of the town.

Speaker 2 (19:29):
Welcome back to the program. It is nine thirty five
in the University City currently just few clouds, seventy eight
degrees on the phone of God. Taylor. Griffith Taylor is
the director of the Children's Miracle Network. Hey, good morning, Taylor.
How are you today, Good morning? How are you.

Speaker 6 (19:49):
I'm excited to get some blizzards.

Speaker 2 (19:52):
Well, you know what, if we would have gotten you one,
I just I didn't know. I didn't know who I
was going to be talking to. And it's shame that
you're not here to have one. But you can always
go out and get one and they'll donate a dollar.
So Taylor tell us how important is Miracle treat Day.

Speaker 6 (20:11):
Absolutely, Miracle treat Day with dairy Queens is very important,
especially for the state of West Virginia. Last year alone,
dairy Queens raised over one hundred thousand dollars that came
right back to w Medicine Children's and that is really
important to have a CMN partner like that. They supported
us for over forty years now. Last year we celebrated
their fortieth birthday, so we're really just excited for that partnership.

(20:34):
It comes out to be over seventy five participating dairy
queens in the state of West Virginia, some in Maryland
as well. I'll be visiting as many dairy queens as
I can today to see all the blizzards and all
the amazing works that they are doing to raise money
for our patients and them.

Speaker 2 (20:49):
Lean, how many blizzards will you have today? Taylor?

Speaker 6 (20:53):
Last year I brought in around five. That was my
record number of as many blizzards as I could have,
So we'll see where I'm at this year. I visited
some stores yesterday and they were all excited about the
new Carmel Craze flavor. Apparently it tastes like a moose track,
so we'll have to try that one. But I'm a
confetti cake girl at heart, so I will have to

(21:14):
have a confetti cake blizard for sure.

Speaker 2 (21:16):
The director of the Children's Miracle Network, Taylor Griffith, is
with us, and you know, Taylor, it seems like it
was just yesterday I was standing out in the parking
lot and witnessed the ribbon cutting and opening of the
doors of the brand new WVU Medicine Children's Hospital. Has
it been three years or four years?

Speaker 6 (21:40):
Actually, September twenty ninth, in a few months will be
our third birthday. So we're underway right now planning the
third birthday for the hospital. We feel like we blinked
and we cut the ribbon and now we're already celebrating
three years in this amazing facility.

Speaker 4 (21:53):
It went.

Speaker 6 (21:54):
It went by quick.

Speaker 2 (21:55):
I couldn't agree more with you, that's for sure. How
things been going over that three year period, I know.
I think we did a two year report and at
that point the facility had basically been full one hundred
percent of the time.

Speaker 6 (22:12):
Absolutely, we're one hundred and fifty bed facility. And you
hate to say it, but you never want anyone to
have to come here. But if you are here, you're
going to receive the best possible care in the state.
Last year alone, we had over twenty five hundred berths
in our birthing center, so that's an amazing record number of
how many new little babies are born in the state.
So we're greatly appreciative for our birthing center and all

(22:34):
that they do. We've also had fourteen thousand emergency department visits,
so our emergency department's always full. Those doors are always opening.
But yeah, the hospital is amazing. It's staying open. All
the rooms are good to go, you.

Speaker 2 (22:51):
Know, Taylor. I've had some conversations with some people that
have had interactions with WVU Medicine Children's hospitals specifically, and
the thing that I keep hearing over and over and
over again is the fact of how attentive the staff
is walking people to elevators and you know, maybe not

(23:15):
just putting them on an elevator and sending them up
in the building, but at some points even escorting them
up to the fifth or sixth floor or wherever it is,
just to make sure that people get to where they're going.
When did that start?

Speaker 6 (23:31):
No, Yeah, absolutely, it's a culture thing for sure. Stevy
Medicine Children's is one big family. Everyone in the hospital
knows everyone, They care about everything that's happening, and they
just want to make sure that our patients and their
families are receiving the best possible care. From the moment
you entered the hospital to the moment you leave, whether
that's with our nutrition services or child life or just

(23:53):
your nurses, you're going to receive the best possible care
all around. It's just a big family atmosphere.

Speaker 2 (23:58):
What can you tell us about the critical care and
maybe some of the more I guess critical type functions
that you provide for families.

Speaker 6 (24:09):
Absolutely. Yes, we have the Pick You, which is our
pediatric intensive care unit. We have Nick You as our
neo natal intensive care units. We have a burthening Center,
our pediatric impatients, which is oncology and heem apology, blood center,
things like that. We also have the Tensilor Family Resource Center,

(24:29):
which is really big for our hospital. It is a
resource center that allows families to come up there. They
can get away for the moment. They can get a
free meal, they can receive a gas card, a hotel stay.
That's just really important too because when the families come
here sometimes they forget something at their house because they're
just trying to get here and get the care for
their patient. So that's a way for us to give

(24:50):
back through Children's Medical Network dollars to give them those
resources and supplies that they need to make their stay
a little less hard on themselves.

Speaker 2 (24:58):
It's got Taylor griff of she's the direct to the
Children's Miracle Network. Taylor, if you could, could you describe
for the listeners the top floor what it is, what
its purpose is.

Speaker 6 (25:11):
Yeah. So the tenth floor is called the Hosteller Family
Resource Center and it has different resources throughout the week
for families to be able to come up there and
receive different things. So we have on Monday through Fridays
we offer lunch for fifty families. They can receive a
gas card to be able to get to and from
their appointments, different things like that, also hotel stays if

(25:32):
they were to need something like that. We have events
up there where we showcase movies or a special event
like the super Bowl. Christmas Time's really big up there.
We also have two game rooms for patients to come
up there, get away, play a video game, and just
be a kid for the moment, because when they're in
the hospital they really have no control of what's happening,

(25:53):
so when they come up there they can just play
and have fun, but also give their guardians, parents, families,
different things, just a moment to just come up there
and get a breath and look out at our amazing area.
You can see the stadium from the tenth floor and
it's just a great atmosphere to be up there.

Speaker 2 (26:10):
Now while we're up on the tenth floor, I'd like
to know how you pull those events together where you
have the superheroes come in and wash the windows, wave
with the kids.

Speaker 6 (26:20):
Absolutely. Yeah.

Speaker 5 (26:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (26:21):
We have a great partnership with the window cleaning company.
They do it throughout the country, but they can come
in and they'll dress up as superheroes and hang from
the hospital and clean the windows. One of the best
moments that I've ever had at this hospital was we
had a patent in here when I first started, and
they loved Spider Man and their room was decorated with
Spider Man. The nurses made sure they even had the

(26:43):
bed seats, and I knew it was the day the
superheroes were coming, and the patient was like, I just
really want to see Spider Man, and I just kept
hoping that Spider Man was going to be the one
that appeared on his window. And as soon as he
said that, he opened his eyes and Spider Man was
the one that came down his window, And that was
one of the best feelings that I've ever had in
That moment stuck with me for a while because we

(27:04):
were able to provide those smiles for these patients when
they need it the most, and that just is the
most rewarding part of my job.

Speaker 2 (27:11):
I can, yeah, I can kind of get goosebumps thinking
about that and looking at the reaction on that young
child's face. Well, what can you tell me forever? Oh,
I'm sure that it will. It probably stick with that
young person as well. What can you tell us about
how the holidays are handled there. Whether it's whether it's Easter,

(27:35):
Fourth of July, Christmas, New Year's how do you do that?

Speaker 6 (27:40):
Absolutely, our holidays are magical at w Medicine Children no
matter big or small. We tried to make sure that
every patient is taken care of like they were at
their own home during this moment. Our Childlife team is
really big and helping with the holidays. They'll go around
to patient's room and provide them with a toy or
an activity just to get their mind off of things.

(28:01):
The holidays are really big with our donors as well.
They'd like to come in and help us with anything,
whether that's passing out pajamas so the whole hospital matches
or light up one or the Easter Bunny comes around,
different things like that. We like to keep it fun
and just everyone uplifting spirits and smiles on their faces
at all times. So we take the hospitals very I

(28:21):
mean the holidays very serious at the hospital here.

Speaker 2 (28:24):
I'm sure you do. Now help me understand the relationship
between the Children's Miracle Network and WVU Medicine Children's.

Speaker 6 (28:35):
Yes, so we are the only Children's Miracle Network in
the state of West Virginia. There is one hundred and
sixty Children's Medical Network hospital throughout the country and we
are one of those. So that is a great partnership
that we had. Last year alone, Children's Medical Network partners
in the state of West Virginia helped raise over two
million dollars for the hospital, So that is a great

(28:57):
partnership that we have. They have different and paigned events
throughout the year with the partnerships that we have, so
in total, we have over eight hundred Children's Medical Network
partners throughout the whole state of West Virginia. So all
year round, January to January, we fundraise, we have different events,
and it's just a great partnership that we have and
we're very lucky to be named a Children's Meerical Network hospital.

Speaker 2 (29:19):
Now, you mentioned the Hostetler Family Resource Center that is
the tenth floor of the hospital, but that's that's not
the only initiative that former WVU quarterback and Super Bowl
winning quarterback Jeff Hostetler does for the hospital. What else
does he do?

Speaker 6 (29:40):
No, Jeff is very involved in the hospital. He's a
great donor but also a great friend to the hospital.
He's always there in anything we need. We greatly appreciate him.
He's always a call away with anything that Children's has
in mind, and we really appreciate that partnership with him.

Speaker 2 (29:54):
How can people support the Children's Miracle Network.

Speaker 6 (30:00):
So throughout the year we have different campaigns, So if
you ever see anything that says Children's Miracle Network, there's
either roundup campaigns or their events like today as well.
But you can always donate to w kids dot com.
You can get on there and donate to us as well.
But just you know, being a part of it and
giving back is just something that's really meaningful to everyone

(30:21):
in this state. I've noticed that with this job, if
everyone wants to make sure that they can help the patients,
and that really means a lot.

Speaker 2 (30:28):
How can people make contact with you if maybe they
have a question something that we weren't able to cover here.

Speaker 6 (30:35):
Absolutely? Yeah. So if you go to WU kids dot
com and click on the Children's Miracle Network, part my
email addresses on there as well as my phone number,
so they can get my contact through there, and I'm
more than willing to talk to them about anything.

Speaker 2 (30:48):
Okay, perfect. Taylor Griffith, the director of the Children's Miracle Network.
Now before I let you go. Just one comment. You
mentioned that there were twenty five hundred births since the
opening of the hospital. Is that right?

Speaker 6 (31:06):
That was just in the twenty twenty four years, So
that was only in one year, only in one year.

Speaker 2 (31:12):
I don't I'm not good at math. How many births
is that to day? What does that average out to?

Speaker 5 (31:19):
Actually?

Speaker 4 (31:21):
Not sure?

Speaker 6 (31:21):
Hold on, I'll tell you around around eight eight birth
a day.

Speaker 2 (31:26):
Eight births a day.

Speaker 4 (31:28):
Yep.

Speaker 2 (31:29):
Well that's something to be proud of, I think, don't
you absolutely?

Speaker 6 (31:32):
Absolutely?

Speaker 2 (31:34):
Okay, Taylor Griffith, Boy, there's babies all over the place, Taylor,
twenty five hundred of them in a year.

Speaker 5 (31:43):
That's true.

Speaker 6 (31:43):
That's true.

Speaker 2 (31:44):
Hey, thank you very much for your time, Taylor. Taylor Griffith,
the director of the Children's Miracle Network, really do appreciate it.
Thank you, ma'am.

Speaker 6 (31:54):
Thank you. Have a great day.

Speaker 2 (31:55):
Yes, ma'am, you too, And don't forget today is a
Miracle Treat Day. The Dairy Queens will donate one dollar
for every blizzard that is purchased. And of course, right
down here the intersection of Root seven and I sixty
eight you can go to the Dairy Queen location. There

(32:16):
all kinds of great flavors. I think Billy said her
favorite is the Superman and I think Angela her favorite
was the Oreo cookie. So go get your favorite and
support a great cause in the WVU Medicine ChIL Children's
Hospital