Patient First in the Community

Recently, Patient First was a sponsor for the Special Olympics Dulles Plane Pull in Dulles, VA. Besides the chance to tow some very large planes, participants received the chance to get up close and personal with everything from aerobatic prop planes, to fighters, to supersized cargo haulers. They were also able to meet the pilots and ask questions about aviation and aircraft handling

Greater DC area Patient First employees had the opportunity to form a team and raise funds for the Special Olympics Virginia Chapter. The Patient First team had a fantastic experience at this very special event!

The funds raised for the Special Olympics Dulles Plane Pull event provides year-round sports training and competitions, leadership opportunities, and health services to more than 3,500 athletes of all abilities.

Patient First looks forward to supporting this event next year.

Woodbury's annual Fall Fest Parade was delayed a week this year due to heavy rain, but the new date brought perfect weather for what is undoubtedly one of the town's largest events. This year's 2022 parade was the 72nd in its history, and it did not disappoint. Staff from our Woodbury center brought their smiles and friendly waves as they carried the Patient First banner along the parade route. The evening event began at the corner of Colonial Avenue and North Broad Street and continued to the corner of Carpenter and South Broad streets, lining the route with happy parade goers every step of the way.

Groups that participated in the parade stopped for performances in front of the Gloucester County Stage in front of Woodbury High School.

We enjoy being out in the community at events like this, and we are already anticipating what the 2023 event schedule will look like. We always value input from local folks who tip us off on events we can take part in, since interactions like this are so fun! Our schedule fills fast, however, so if you or someone you know has thoughts or ideas of where we might go next, please let us hear from you!

The 35th annual Celtic Classic, sponsored each year by the Celtic Cultural Alliance, returned to the streets of beautiful Historic Downtown Bethlehem, and Patient First was part of the fun again this year. We have enjoyed participating in this event for many years and join others in celebrating all things Celtic while we are there. That includes education, musical performances, and traditional competitions in athletics, piping and dance. Celtic refers to seven nations - Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, the Isle of Mann and Galicia.

The event drew competitors from all over the county, and visitors from all over as well. We participated in the closing day of this three-day event and the culmination of the "Highland Games" which has been described as the biggest competition that a professional men's Highland gamer can go to.

The day was full of plenty of men in kilts -- women and children, too. And even though we had a little afternoon rain on closing day, it surely didn't dampen anyone's spirits. Caber throwing was probably our most favorite featured activity of the event since we were set up in an area that gave us a front row view of the athletes in action. A caber looks like a telephone pole, but it's essentially a large, cleaned tree that ranges anywhere from 12 to 16 feet, and can weigh up to 160 pounds. It was just amazing to see men compete by flipping and turning over these large poles in the air.

What an incredibly fun day we had. Our congratulations to Jayne Ann Recker, executive director of the Celtic Cultural Alliance, and her team of volunteers who make this an outstanding experience for us, and all participants each year. We are already looking forward to our return in 2023!

It was the last crab feast of the summer for many, as they traveled to Sandy Point State Park along the west shore of the Chesapeake Bay on September 24th and 25th, for the 56th annual Maryland Seafood Festival. People from all across the Delmarva region turned out in droves to sample the wide range of culinary preparations made possible by the bounty of the bay.

As a sponsor of the festival, our Patient First tent was one of the first to greet the approximately 45,000 guests as they passed through the gates of this two day event. Our staff heard nothing but wonderful things from our former patients about the treatment they received, including more than a few who credited our staff with literally saving their lives!

In addition to the delicious array of seafood items being offered for sale, the festival featured a crab soup cookoff, several BMX stunt shows, an inflatable fun park, numerous live bands, craft vendors, and games like axe throwing and cornhole. In all, there was a little something for everyone, and we certainly look forward to being a part of next year's fun, as well!

After a three year hiatus, Naval Air Station Oceana opened their gates to the public for a riveting air show so loved by the community.  The highly anticipated performance drew in over 330,000 people over the three day weekend; a record breaking number in over 20 years.  The U.S. Navy Blue Angels were the headlining act, accompanied by a number of other flight crews, jet trucks and sky divers. Jet engines roared and exhaust smoke filled the air as the crowd cheered and stood gazing in awe.  Sunshine and clear blue skies created the perfect scene to a showcase of unforgettable performances.

Patient First is deeply rooted in the military community and proudly supports our troops .  We were excited to be a part of such an amazing experience and look forward to seeing you all next year!

They came by the literal busloads; more than 40,000 travelers, from as far away as upstate New York and North Carolina, all to the small Amish township of Bird-In-Hand, PA from September 16th through the 18th, all to take part in the Lancaster Hot Air Balloon Festival.

This was our second year participating in this three-day event, and the weather could not have been more idyllic for both an outdoor festival, and for ballooning. In addition to the variety of food, music and performers ranging from street magicians to appearances from Disney Princesses and heroes from the Marvel and DC universes, the highlight of each day was the ascension of over 40 hot air balloons in both the morning and evening.

In addition to our tent, which put us in contact with customers from New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, as well as Pennsylvania, we sponsored the festival's corn maze, and our sign was featured on one of the balloons that went up. So many people were familiar with our centers, and had 100% positive comments regarding their care, the cleanliness of our centers, and the friendly and caring attention of our staff.

This is a family-friendly, visually spectacular event that draws a large crowd spanning our entire service area. We look forward to returning as a sponsor next year!

York PA's Cousler Park typically plays host to area joggers, dog walkers, and residents out to enjoy the fresh air, its trees and fields, or maybe a game of tennis or basketball. But on Saturday, September 17th, the park played host to a wide variety of magical and fantastic beings, all taking part in this year's Enchanted Fairy Festival.

Already in its sixth year of operation, this was Patient First's first time participating in this colorful display of imagination and fantasy. A variety of vendors set up shop all along two miles of the park's winding path, which also featured a pirate's cove, a mermaid pond, an Alice in Wonderland tea party court, and a jet air gun spewing foam onto the asphalt, where kids could escape from the heat.

In addition to our usual giveaway items like band-aids, hot/cold packs, hand sanitizers and yo-yo's, at this event we set up a second table where children could come and create their own personal fairies out of popsicle sticks, fabric, and tulle. It was a huge hit! As the kids created their craft, parents stayed and talked with us about the services we provide, and their positive experiences as our patients.

Organizers say this year was their biggest year to date, with over 6,000 people coming out in a variety of amazing costumes. We certainly look forward to seeing what's in store here next year!

A gorgeous weekend and clear, cloudless skies provided a picture perfect setting for this year's Baltimore Fleet Week and Flyover event at the Inner Harbor. This marked Patient First's first year taking part in the celebration of the U.S. Navy, with a booth set up on Friday, September 9th, and Saturday, September 10th.

This event drew a wide range of tourists, given the fact of Baltimore's draw as a tourist city, the fact that the Orioles were in town playing it's division rival Boston Red Sox, and that the event drew families of Navy sailors from across the country, there to see their sons and daughters. People came to our table from as far away as Georgia, Connecticut, Mississippi, Missouri, and Florida, just to name a few.

The weekend itself was quite the spectacle, with a variety of planes flying overhead at various points in the day, including F-18 fighters creating sonic booms, and impressive ocean going vessels like the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and a Danish tall ship. All of our volunteers who turned out to support our sponsorship had a great time seeing the sights, and interacting with our customers, and the organizers were very helpful in meeting our needs. It was a rewarding day for everyone!

It's the unofficial sendoff to  summer, and tens of thousands of people took part in the fun at the Maryland State Fair at the Timonium Fairgrounds the weekend of September 3rd & 4th. This was Patient First's first year participating in this 141 year tradition, and by all accounts it was a resounding success!

Positioned right at the mouth of the midway, our Patient First was the first thing to greet the more than 100 thousand  who passed through the turnstiles. Fairgoers loaded their Patient First bags with hand sanitizer, band-aids, hot/cold packs, pens, post-it's, along with wooden planes and yo-yo's for the kids right out of the gate as they began their day. The event attracted patients from as far south as Fairfax, VA, and York, PA to the north. Nearly everyone who stopped by were familiar with both our brand and our services, and had wonderful things to say about our staff.

In addition to having a prime greeting spot at the entrance, Patient First was also the official sponsor of the fairground's nine permanent hand washing stations, and 11 mobile hand washing stations, scattered across the 100 acres of the property. These signs will remain at the facility throughout the year, and visible to everyone who attends the variety of events held at the fairgrounds well into 2023. We are also prominently featured on a sign above the exit to the popular 4H Exhibition Hall.

The staff and organizers at the fair couldn't have been nicer, and more accommodating, and we certainly look forward to working with them again in the future!

Beach Events kicked off their annual Funk Festival at the Virginia Beach oceanfront on 24th Street. For 12 years, this exciting festival has brought people together for a weekend of music and fun. We know the saying that music is medicine for the soul. Inspired by several genres of music, funk's rhythmic pattern makes dancing hard to resist. People lined the boardwalk, grooving to music while stopping by the Patient First tent to collect free promotional items.

With good weather and good vibes, Patient First was happy to participate in this electrifying event. We had a great time, and look forward to seeing you all next year!