WVU School of Nursing to host Family Feud FUNdraiser to benefit homeless outreach efforts

West Virginia University School of Nursing professors will face off—Family Feud style—by answering questions from the popular television show, as well as School of Nursing-related questions on Thursday, April 7 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Okey Patteson Auditorium in the Health Sciences Center.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and admission is $5, which can be paid in cash or via Venmo at the door. The event is open to the Health Sciences community and beyond.

Hosted by the Student Nurses Association, proceeds from the event will benefit MUSHROOM (Multidisciplinary UnSheltered Homeless Relief Outreach Of Morgantown), a program that brings together medical, nursing, dental, social work and other health professional volunteers to offer folks experiencing homelessness basic care, such as food, water, clothing and basic medical intervention.

“This is the first time that Professor Family Feud is being hosted at the School of Nursing,” shared event organizer Andrew Johnson, a junior in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. “However, we are hopeful that it will become an annual event. I have done this previously with other organizations and schools, and it has been a huge success.”

Johnson said the School of Nursing professors are already having lots of fun preparing for the event—creating team names, themes and costumes, as well as engaging in some friendly “smack talk” with their opponents.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to participate in activities in person due to COVID,” shared Brad Phillips, one of the faculty members who will join the Feud. “On top of that, it’s a way for students to see their faculty outside of the classroom and clinical setting. It’ll help with increasing faculty-student relationships by using humor.”

Phillips will be joined on his team by Beth Stiles, Tonya Payerchin, Heather ONeal, Amy Miner, Tina Keener and Tanya Rogers. The opposing team includes Jo Watson, Stacy Huber, Beth Minchau, Stacy Russell, Andrea Bailey, Derrick Conner and Sue McKenrick.

Johnson especially encourages nursing students to attend, as professors from all levels of instruction will be participating. Additionally, all School of Nursing students who attend will receive a homework late ticket that they can use per instructor discretion. However, everyone is invited to attend the event—Johnson said whether you know the professors or not, the game will be fun to watch.

“Please mark your calendars and come out for a hilarious night of fun, and help us support a really great cause,” Johnson said. “MUSHROOM is such a great organization that helps support Morgantown’s homeless population.”

Johnson said while MUSHROOM offers clothing, food, supplies and medicine, the volunteers also offer kind conversation and a listening ear to the folks they serve.

“Whether we find them at the public shelter or on the street corners and alleyways of downtown Morgantown, all of the individuals that we help have great stories to share, have jokes that they always tell, or maybe they simply just need someone to talk to about life,” Johnson said.

“Unfortunately, unsheltered individuals are ignored by the public, and it is common to see people go out of their way to avoid walking past a homeless individual just to avoid talking to them or addressing them. I don't think anyone can imagine how that would feel to be completely ignored by society, and that is why MUSHROOM tries to ensure they are not overlooked anymore. It is truly a great organization that strives to help others above all else, and that idea is a core principle of nursing.”