On the evening of Thursday, October 17, VicTory 4 Kidz held its annual gala fundraiser at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville. Established in 2022, VicTory 4 Kidz is a non-profit organization that enables the Region’s students to explore the field of healthcare through educational summer camps and the Youth Healthcare Career Expo.
This year’s gala was titled “The Future of Healthcare is Now.” and was a masquerade theme. The event’s sponsors included Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing, Ivy Tech, St. Mary's Medical Center/Powers Health, Community HealthNet, VicTory at Home, Northwest Indiana Health Disparities and IUN College of Health and Human Services. The attendees came from across Northwest Indiana and beyond, many of them education and healthcare professionals. Several students in the VicTory 4 Kidz program were also present along with students from the Hammond Area Career Center, the A. K. Smith Career Center in Michigan City, Thea Bowman Leadership Academy, Merrillville High School and Hobart High School.
This year’s gala kicked off with VicTory 4 Kidz’s first-ever Fireside Chat. The discussion, moderated by VicTory 4 Kidz Founder Dr. Regina Beard, featured several of the Region’s most prominent figures. These included Janice Ryba, CEO of St. Mary Medical Center; Aco Sikoski, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College’s Valparaiso campus; and Denise Dillard, founder of the Northwest Indiana Health Disparities Initiative. The panelists discussed a variety of subjects, such as the increasingly prominent role that AI, robots, and other forms of technology have in healthcare. They also shared some insight into their own career paths, offering the students in the audience encouragement and advice.
Dr. Janet Seabrook, CEO of Community HealthNet Health Centers and City of Gary health commissioner was the fourth Fireside Chat speaker. She believes that the gala and the Fireside Chat will not only benefit students but ultimately the community at large.
“It's very important for students to know about the career and academic resources that are available in their community,” Seabrook said. “I believe this event helps bring that home for them. We’re showing students that they don't have to go outside of their community to get the education and academic advice that they need because all of those resources are available for them right here. We want to take a well-rounded, holistic approach to putting that information in front of the students. We as healthcare providers need to have these kinds of conversations with the younger generations because our future will be in their hands.”
During the second portion of the event, the masquerade gala, attendees enjoyed drinks from the open bar and the delicious food served up by the Avalon Manor staff as they listened to the evening’s other featured speakers. These included siblings Amari Noelle Ferguson and Ahmad Nicholas Ferguson – actors on the Showtime series “The Chi” – and Dr. Peggy Buffington, School City of Hobart superintendent. The speakers emphasized the importance of ethics, empathy, and diversity in the medical field. They also encouraged the students present to pursue their interests, regardless of what others might say.
Indiana University Northwest School of Nursing Director and College of Health and Human Services Dean Dr. Crystal Shannon was one of the speakers during the masquerade gala.
“Our nation comprises a variety of individuals from all walks of life, backgrounds, experiences, and age groups,” Shannon said. “This is reflected in healthcare as well. Healthcare means something different to each unique individual at different points in their lives. The healthcare field must have the proper level of diversity and variety of perspectives so that we as healthcare professionals can best support individuals where they are. I respect the fact that, although Dr. Beard is a nurse by trade, she is not necessarily pushing students into the nursing discipline. She recognizes that all of the medical disciplines play a role in supporting healthy outcomes for the community. When I learned about the work she was doing, I knew that I had to be a part of it.”
Although a number of serious topics were addressed at the gala, the atmosphere was far from solemn. Attendees greatly enjoyed taking pictures at the photo booth and enthusiastically participated in the raffle and the “Best Mask” contest. DJ All Owt kept the party atmosphere alive and guests dancing with songs like “Cha-Cha Slide” by DJ Casper and “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson (ft. Bruno Mars).
Patrick Dalton, VicTory 4 Kidz board member, was pleased to be attending this year’s gala and enjoys the event’s celebratory nature.
“This is an important event for the community for several reasons,” Dalton said. “It enables us to establish a health care network in Northwest Indiana similar to those found in cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, and St. Louis. It also helps establish close relationships among the guests and gets people excited about giving our youth access to education opportunities in the healthcare industry. Tonight is all about spending time with old friends, making new ones, and ultimately working together to accomplish our common goals.”
Audra Peterson, director of career and technical education for Porter County and one of the speakers at the gala, is optimistic that the event will inspire everyone present.
“I hope that everybody leaves feeling that they've been given a mission,” Peterson said. “I think that we've done a great job of presenting the vision and the goal tonight, so I hope everybody walks away asking themselves, ‘What more can I do?’ We’re very thankful for everything that Dr. Beard and VicTory 4 Kidz have done. Well over 400 students in Porter County attended the Porter County Health Fair, and they would not have had the opportunity if Dr. Beard had not spearheaded it. It’s been cool to sit with the students tonight and hear them talk about their career plans and how they discovered what they want to do. Dr. Beard is a gem, and her vision for this project is just tremendous. I'm very glad I was able to participate in this event.”
You can learn more information about VicTory 4 Kidz by visiting victory4kidz.net.