A fundraiser for the Hoops Family Children’s Hospital sails into town.
By Molly McClennen
HQ 106 | SUMMER 2019
Visitors to Huntington have likely noticed some new additions to the cityscape: whimsical tugboats, each with a unique design, on display in the heart of downtown between Heritage Station and Eighth Street. While the tugboats are public art paying tribute to the city’s river and rail heritage, their real purpose is helping some of the Tri-State’s most vulnerable residents, the children undergoing treatment at the Cabell Huntington Hospital Hoops Family Children’s Hospital, which serves children from 29 counties in the region.
Thirty-nine artists volunteered their time and talent to create tugboats to be displayed as part of the fundraiser. The boats were auctioned off at a gala held in late June. Some of the 39 winning bidders will display the boats at their home or office, while others donated the boats so that they can continue to decorate Huntington’s downtown. A map of the tugboat locations is available at www.visithuntingtonwv.org. Each boat has the Hoops Family Children’s Hospital logo on it somewhere, so families can make a game of finding the logo as they walk around to discover the boats.
The hospital held a similar fundraiser in 2015, featuring trains. Velma Workman, development outreach coordinator at Cabell Huntington Hospital, said the artists, many of whom are from the Huntington area, are enthusiastic about supporting the event.
“I was extremely excited to see the artists posting their progress online using social media. You could see them using the hashtag #artforacause and #tugsforhoops,” Workman said. “As you walk around town and look at the tugboats, the artistry on display is just phenomenal.”
Workman said the event is a testimony to the power of the community to work together to make a positive difference. In addition to the artists who donated their talents, men from Recovery Point (a local program that helps individuals find lasting recovery from substance use disorders) constructed the pedestals used to display the boats. Each of the boats was sponsored by a local business. Between those sponsorships and the proceeds from the auction, the tugboats raised $150,000 for the hospital.
“The event is 18 months in the making, so you can imagine how many people are involved. It is a great collaboration between the city of Huntington and Cabell Huntington Hospital to bring art to the community in this form,” Workman said. “The hospital is mainly funded by donations from the community, so we truly appreciate everyone’s help.”
