Patient First‘s commitment to the community goes beyond providing convenient, cost-effective health care. Patient First also supports numerous organizations that make a positive impact in our local neighborhoods and across the mid-Atlantic.
See what Patient First is doing in the community.
On Sunday, July 21st, the Bowie Baysox, the AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles honored first responders with its annual Hero's Day, and for the first time, Patient First was the proud presenting sponsor for the day!
This inaugural event sponsorship further deepens our ties with the Baysox, on top of having been in the managing organization of the stadium's First Aid station for years.
As the presenting sponsor for Hero's Day, we were afforded a pair of digital billboards on the team's massive scoreboard, two between-inning ad reads by the Baysox PA announcer, a 4x4 banner displayed at the main gate crediting us as the Hero's Day sponsor, an on-air interview during the game on the team's radio partner, WNAV, and participation in the pre-game first pitch ceremony.
Dr. Delbert Morales, the regional medical director for DC and Northern Virginia was given the honor of the first pitch ceremony, and threw a very respectable toss to the catcher. Not a bounce to be found! A lengthy third inning provided us with an extensive interview segment, during which Dr. Morales informed the audience on how to stay cool not just in the stands, but in general during these dog days of summer. He also emphasized Patient First's pride in being a partner with the Baysox, and the community that we serve.
As usual, our table was a popular destination for the crowd, most of whom were patients from the Bowie, Glen Burnie and Odenton centers, though some had experiences with us from as far south as Richmond, as as far north as Aberdeen. Patient First is happy to be in league with the Baysox, and we look forward to a long and continued partnership with the organization!
The Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites organization hosted its 37th annual Blueberry Festival at the beautiful Burnside Plantation, and Patient First was once again part of the fun of all things blueberry. We have participated in this event several times over the years, and were delighted to return again this year. Although Mother Nature threatened to deliver thunderstorms all weekend during the event, she was wrong. Instead of rain we got dry air and blistering heat, which made the blueberry pie and blueberry ice cream taste extra special. Although the overall foot traffic was down a bit this year (most likely due to the extreme heat), we enjoyed a steady flow of visits to our tent on both days of this weekend event.
As always, we provided complimentary blood pressure checks and a variety a great give away items. It is always nice to see the organization's President and CEO, LoriAnn Wukitsch, and this year was no exception. She made a point to drop by our tent for a visit and to thank us for participating in this event once again. So many visitors from all over the Lehigh Valley and beyond stopped by and shared stories of their positive visits to our centers. In fact, one of the early visitors to our tent set the mood for our entire first day. She approached us with a big smile and an "I Love Patient First" greeting. She raved about several visits to our nearby Bethlehem center and sang praises for the center's Medical Director who has treated her several times during the past year.
Each year this event features crafters, artists and vendors of all types, live entertainment on two stages, contests, games and activities and so much more. Of course a variety of fresh blueberry pie, strudel and coffee cake and all kinds of other edible treats featuring blueberries were a highlight of the event. Proceeds from this event help Historic Bethlehem maintain 20 historic landmarks in Bethlehem. This organization also hosts the annual "Apple Days" event at the same location, and we are looking forward to returning for that this Fall!
This past weekend, we had an incredible time at the 32nd Annual Barbecue Battle in Washington, D.C. Despite the heat, our first event in the nation's capital was a huge success. The Barbecue Battle, which started in 1993, has grown significantly, closing down the largest strip of downtown into early Monday morning. The event featured 150 food samples and numerous beverage samples, offering plenty of free food and drinks for attendees.
In addition to the delicious food, the two-day event hosted two stages for music and performances, as well as a thrilling Olympians and Monster BMX exhibition. The barbecue competition was fierce, with winners taking home $5,000.
Our hand sanitizer was in high demand. Visitors from Massachusetts, Florida, Columbia, Iowa, and even Spain stopped by our booth. We were thrilled to inform them that they could visit any of our centers if they needed medical attention while in the area. We were delighted to reconnect with previous patients from our Maryland centers in Germantown, Glen Burnie, Bowie, Clinton, Waldorf, Rockville, Owings Mills, and Capitol Heights. We also met visitors from our Virginia centers in Alexandria, Manassas, Springfield, Woodbridge, and Garrisonville, who had nothing but positive feedback about their experiences.
Overall, our first event in D.C. was a resounding success, and we look forward to returning next year.
For over 120 years, the Towson Chamber of Commerce has hosted its annual 4th of July Parade in front of crowds of flag waving spectators. Just as it has for over a decade now, Patient First has been a proud sponsor of this celebration of our nation's birth!
This year 15 staffers from as near as Towson and as far as Germantown came out to represent Patient First as we waved and greeted the cheering fans lined up along the parade route. As we travelled up and down the York Road corridor, we were spurred on by the shouts of people saying how much they loved Patient First, and how we've helped them through some particularly tough times.
This year's participation matches a record for participation! We look forward to seeing how many people we can get to walk with us in 2025!
This past Saturday, Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg came alive with the vibrant spirit of SummerFest, a long standing tradition where the Gaithersburg community gathers to celebrate American Independence with friends and family. The free event ran form 6pm to 11pm, featuring live music, food trucks and kids activities, all culminating in a spectacular fireworks display and a night glow after party.
The weather was perfect for the festivities, with a beautiful sunny day and temperatures around 90F. It was wonderful to meet so many new faces, including residents from Germantown and Aspen Hill. We also the pleasure of reconnecting with previous patients from our Rockville and Germantown locations, who had nothing but praise for our front office staff.
Our booth was a hit, especially our chip clips and hand sanitizers, which were among the most requested items. SummerFest is one of the largest and most enjoyable events in Gaithersburg, and we always look forward to being a part of it. We can't wait to return next year for more fun and community engagement.
On Friday, June 21, we had an exciting evening at Bowie Baysox stadium during their "Don't Discuss Bruno" night, inspired by the movie Encanto. Positioned right outside the first aid station, our table was a popular stop for fans, who shared wonderful feedback about our centers. Our Baseball stress balls were a big hit among the attendees.
Although the Baysox didn't win the game, the post-game fireworks brought smiles to everyone's faces and lifted the spirits of the crowd. We had a fantastic time at the stadium and can't wait to return for another event!
Historically, the Devon Horse Show & Country Fair can trace its late spring/early summer roots all the way back to 1896. It is both the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed horse competition in the United States. Fortunately for us, it's also located directly across the street from our center on Lancaster Avenue in Devon. It's great to be a part of such a prestigious event. Over the years, it's become one of our favorite signature events of the year.
Since we opened our Devon center, we've been fortunate to develop a great relationship with the Horse Show executives and staff. We're also proud to be a "presenting sponsor" for a really fun children's event on the final day of the big event - the "Itty Bitty Hat Parade."
The Horse Show is an enormous multi-million dollar 11-day event that attracts some amazing horses from around the country and around the world. It attracts elite horsemen and women who compete and show their prize horses. It attracts more than 125,000 visitors, and is truly a huge and anticipated event each year in the community. The Country Fair element was added to the event in 1919 as the philanthropic arm for the organization.
Each year moms and dads, grandparents, and other adults bring their children to the covered pavilion on site where we are set up with two tables. On one table, we provide complimentary blood pressure checks for adults along with our usual Patient First swag. The second table is set up catering directly to children, where we provide a coloring table complete with horse-related coloring sheets and mini-crayon boxes for the kids to enjoy. We always have a great turnout of children and families throughout the day when we're there. Fun times for sure, and we are already looking forward to our return in 2025.
As the saying goes, "Virginia is for Lovers"-or, in this case, sports lovers- as thousands flocked to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront the weekend of June 7-9 for the 30th Annual North American Sand Soccer Championships. The event, which spanned over 30 blocks, drew more than 800 teams worldwide from Central and South America, Europe, Canada, and all over the United States! Nearly 100,000 attendees spanned across the two miles of beachfront throughout the three-day event.
Patient First has participated in this event for several years now. This year, we were located just on the other side of the main stage, so we saw many of the attendees pass through. Our blood pressure screenings, Band-Aids, and hand sanitizer were particularly popular. Throughout the weekend, we heard numerous stories from those familiar with our centers both locally and from afar. Many indicated it was nice to see a familiar face on hand, especially in the event if services were needed.
This is just one of several events in which Patient First will be participating at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront throughout the summer and into the fall.
A gorgeous weekend and clear, cloudless skies provided a picture perfect setting for this year's Baltimore Fleet Week and Flyover event at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. This marked Patient First's second time participating in this biannual celebration of the U.S. Navy, with a table and tent set up on Saturday, June 15th and Sunday, June 16th.
This event drew a wide range of tourists from all over the not just the country, but the world. We spoke with people from as far away as Los Angeles, Argentina, and even one family from Germany! A large contingent of people who stopped by were from the Philadelphia region, given the fact that the Orioles were in town playing the Phillies. Nevertheless, they were still very familiar with our centers and our services, since we have centers in that region, as well.
The event itself was quite the spectacle, with a variety of planes flying overhead throughout the day, including an F-15 fighter streaking across the sky, and even hovering over the harbor.
Our staff on both days of the event were phenomenal, and everyone had a great time. The organizers were very grateful for our sponsorship, and we certainly look forward to returning in 2026!
Patient First was a proud sponsor for Relay for Life. The event was held on Saturday, May 11th, at Independence High School in Ashburn, 23 minutes away from our Leesburg and Chantilly centers. Despite the windy and rainy weather, cancer survivors and their supporters walked the track to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
The event kicked off with a moving opening ceremony, and survivors then took to the track for their first lap. The weather conditions were challenging, but everyone remained determined to finish. After about an hour of rain, the skies cleared and a beautiful double rainbow appeared-- a fitting symbol of hope and resilience.
Everyone there showed their unwavering support for cancer survivors, and we are so glad to have been part of it!