After a long period of construction, the new Children’s Hospital in Birmingham will officially open its doors August 2012.

“Called the ‘Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children,’ the new hospital will join the current, century-old Children’s of Alabama Hospital to create a pediatric center that will be a state-of-the-art facility second to none in the pediatric care field,” said a proud Bob Palys.

Key Club adviser for Holly Pond, the Kiwanian adviser for this division and the state adviser on the Adult Key Club Board, Palys has been working tirelessly toward this goal for several years through his efforts with the Key Clubs of Alabama.

“Alabama will be the number one in an area far superior to collegiate football,” he said.

“The Key Club is the largest high school service organization dedicated to children. Under the auspices of Kiwanis International, the Key Clubs in our area exemplifies the message of the Key Club International Motto; ‘Caring…Our Way of Life,” said Palys.

The area Key Clubs of Addison, Cullman, Fairview, Holly Pond and Winston County high schools, have joined forces to raise funds to fulfill a promise that Alabama District Key Club made to Children’s Hospital in 2008. That promise was to raise $150,000 to sponsor two rooms in the new facility. One room will be the Teen Room where Children’s Hospital patients can “chill out” and forget about their medical issues for a while and just be teenagers.

“This room will be named after the long-time administrator of Key Club, Mr. Robert Bottsford,” said Palys.

 The second room sponsored by Key Club will be the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Waiting Room, in which the parents of a child who is ill can relax in recliners, have wash clothes, cook a meal and relieve the tremendous stress that exists for the parents. This room will be named the Matt Palys PICU Waiting Room in honor of the former Holly Pond Key Clubber who passed away eleven years ago at age 17.

Matt Palys was the son of Bob and Melba Palys, two of Cullman’s most conscientious volunteers.

Over the past four years, the Alabama Key Club has raised $112,000 with the Cullman-Winston counties Key Clubs contributing over $25,000 to “Keeping Promises,” the largest amount raised by any of the 18 Key Club Divisions in Alabama.

A major fundraising project used by our area clubs is the “Because We Love Kids” event, which is spearheaded by Bob and Melba Palys.

The third annual Because We Love Kids Day will be on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, at the Holly Pond High School gym.

“Key Clubbers have been busy acquiring autographed collectibles and an assortment of items for a silent auction, Chinese auction, live auction, and an afternoon of Bingo,” said Palys.

According to Palys, children from Cullman and Winston counties spent 4,632 in-patient and out-patient days in Children’s Hospital last year. “In all, Children’s Hospital encountered almost 750,000 in-patient/out-patient visits in 2010,” he added.

“It is our Key Club’s goal to raise at least $1 for every day a child from our area was at Children’s; that would make our goal-raising a minimum of $4,632,” stated Palys. “We know that economic times are rough; we feel that we have the potential — if we can induce people to come visit us and be a part of our special day.”

There will be three types of auctions; the silent auction and Chinese auction will begin at 11 a.m. and will continue to 1 p.m. A live auction will begin at noon. At approximately 1:15, a live game of Bingo will begin. There will be 20 games at $1 each, with prizes valued at least $25; in addition there will be 5 games at $3 each, with prizes worth at least $75; the last game will cost $5 and be a cover-all game with the winner walking away with a 32-inch flat screen TV.

One hundred percent of the money raised at the event will be donated to Children’s Hospital.

“We have some awesome items,” said an enthusiastic Palys. “One of the most unusual is a tournament-used tennis racket signed by John McEnroe. I personally spoke with Mr. McEnroe’s father in New York City and he asked me if we would take the racket. I was so excited,” said Palys. “But somehow I calmly told him that we would be honored.

“That racket is really priceless,” he continued. “Although I did research it on the Internet and saw one at auction that had a bid of $1,400.

 “Our donations are a bit down this year, but considering what we went through in April, I fully understand the situation; my house was damaged by the tornado, also,” he said. “We truly appreciate all of our support.”

Some of the other high-priced items include a 16 x 20 photo autographed by Tiger Woods worth over $1,000 and a framed Daniel Moore print, and a Lanny Chappalear print valued at over $600 each, and a Dennis Minor, Duck’s Unlimited, 2000 International Artist of the Year print, titled “Waiting at Crow Creek,” valued at $125.

There will also be 27 x 40 movie poster of “Seven Days in Utopia” signed by Alabama Actor Lucas Black.

“These auction items are extremely unique and will only increase in value in the future,” said Palys. “Many of the celebrity contributions were obtained because the auctions will be benefiting Children’s Hospital; the average person would have a little chance acquiring them.”

  A few of the items will have a reserve bid but most of the collectibles will be sold to the highest bidder. So far, the Internet value on all of the items that will be for sale exceeds $10,000.

“The Bingo games should be a lot of fun. Each game will offer a prize that is worth at least 25 times the price of the game. We will even provide free popcorn to the players,” Palys chuckled.

All donations and purchases are a tax deduction based on 501c3 guidelines.  “Children are our precious future,” said an emotional Palys. “Embracing, ‘Because We Love Kids,’ is a very affordable way to help our children and their families while having a great time.”

“We owe so many ‘thank-yous’ to our local businesses and celebrities for their generous contributions. We are also grateful to all who will attend our event. Key Club is a great organization and its members work hard to make a difference,” Palys said.

“We are hoping that the turnout will be large so we can make a lot of money for the hospital and for our children. Just about every family either had or knows about a Children’s Hospital experience. If an individual would donate $1 or play just one game of Bingo, we would have a hugely successful event,” says Palys. “We have a need for many auction or prize donations.”

If any business would like to help out or needs further information, contact Bob Palys at 256-352-2793.

“We wish that you would join us on Saturday, March 17. Admission is free and it will be a lot of fun,” invited Palys.

THE DETAILS

Cullman area Key Clubs are sponsoring a live/silent auction to benefit Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. The “Because We Love Kids” event will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 17, at Holly Pond High School in the old gym. The many items donated are:

Tournament-used tennis racket signed by John McEnroe (value minimum – priceless, shown with Bob Palys, Key Club spokesperson)

16 x 20 photo signed by Tiger Woods (value minimum $1,200)

Daniel Moore print framed (value minimum $600)

Dennis Minor print framed (value minimum $600)

Lanny Chappalear print framed (value minimum $400)

8 x 10 photo signed by Jimmy and Roslyn Carter (value minimum $150)

8 x 10 photo signed by Al Gore (value minimum $100)

8 x 10 photo signed by Colin Powell (value minimum $150)

5 x 7 photo signed by Peyton Manning (value minimum $105)

8 x 10 photo signed by Baseball HOF Stan Musial (value minimum $75)

8 x 10 photo signed by Baseball HOF Whitey Ford (value minimum $80)

8 x 10 photo signed by Baseball HOF Tom Lasorda (value minimum $145)

8 x 10 assorted Photos by Baseball Player Don Larsen (value minimum $205)

8 x 10 photo signed by Basketball HOF Bob Cousy (value minimum $50)

8 x 10 photo signed by Roger Federer (value minimum $100)

8 x 10 photo signed by Arnold Palmer (value minimum $150)

8 x 10 photo signed by NASCAR Jeff Gordon (value minimum $70)

8 x 10 photo signed by NASCAR Trevor Bayne (value minimum $50)

8 x 10 photo signed by NASCAR HOF Richard Petty (minimum value $50)

8 x 10 photo signed by NASCAR Michael Waltrip (minimum value $30)

8 x 10 photo signed by NASCAR Ryan Trues (minimum value $30)

8 x 10 Comic Drawing by Jim Davis (Garfield)  (minimum value $50)

8 x 10 Comic Drawing by Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey) (minimum value $75)

Funky Winkerbean Comic signed by Tom Batiuk (minimum value $200)

Assorted art prints signed by Christo and Jeanne-Claude (minimum value $800)

Seven Days in Utopia movie poster signed by Lucas Black (minimum value $50)

3 x 5 photo signed by Paula Dean and gift certificate (minimum value $70)

8 x 10 photo signed by Martina McBride (minimum value $60)

8 x 10 photo signed by John Travolta (minimum value $70)

8 x 10 photo signed by Danny Glover (minimum value $50)

8 x 10 photo signed by Colin Farrell (minimum value $50)

8 x 10 photo signed by Eric Mabius (minimum value $30)

8 x 10 photo signed by Olivia Newton John (minimum value ($90)

8 x 10 photo signed by Jeff Foxworthy (minimum value $50)

8 x 10 photo signed by Eddie Murphy (minimum value $70)

8 x 10 photo signed by Jan and Dean (minimum value $40)

8 x 10 photo signed by James Earl Jones (minimum value $50)

4 x 6  Photo signed by Sarah Palin (minimum value $20)

2 CD set “Encores” signed by Jimmy Buffett (minimum value $100)

1999 Silver Dollar American Eagle uncirculated (minimum value $50)

Pulsar men’s watch analog tachymeter (minimum value $175)

First The Assault On Reason signed by Al Gore (minimum value $150)

First edition novel signed by Dean Koontz (value minimum $140)

First edition novel signed by Dean Koontz (minimum value $50)

First edition novel signed by John Grisham (minimum value $60)

4 trail cards Robert Trent Jones Golf (minimum value $160)

4 passes Robert Trent Jones Golf Short Courses (minimum value $72)

2 passes Ballantrae Golf Course (minimum value $82)

2 passes Guntersville State Park Golf Course $76)

4 passes family pack Six Flags (minimum value $225)

Casino package Wind Creek Alabama (minimum value $830)

Casino package Hollywood Casino Tunica (minimum value $200)

Casino package Sam’s Town Tunica (minimum value $240)

Casino package Bally’s Tunica (minimum value $100)

Casino package Pearl River Philadelphia (minimum value $240)