1st Annual Bill Sweeney Fund Charity Gala

On April 23rd at 7pm, The Bill Sweeney Perinatal Care Fund will host its first annual Perinatal Loss Gala at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel. The gala honors the life of the late Dr. Bill Sweeney, whose mission in life was to care for those who faced perinatal death and high risk pregnancies.

Dr. William (Bill) Sweeney was a renowned perinatologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center whose sudden death left a large hole in the community. He provided compassion and comfort to those struggling with difficult pregnancies. Bill was instrumental in the development of the first freestanding perinatal palliative care program, SilverLeaf Counseling Services. It is the mission of the Bill Sweeney Perinatal Care Fund to ensure that this kind of support not only continues, but also grows and improves.

One in four women who become pregnant will experience pregnancy loss. The Bill Sweeney Perinatal Care Fund is designed to provide access to perinatal palliative care, one-on-one and family counseling, support groups, and follow-up support to those in need, regardless of the ability to pay.

”It was in the toughest cases, the ones where there are often no answers or explanations as to why, that he felt the resources available to the bereaved were just too few,” says Mary Sweeney, Bill’s wife.

The Bill Sweeney Perinatal Care Fund will also provide specialized bereavement training to the heath care community in local hospitals, doctors’ offices and clinics, to assist those who care for these special babies and their parents. Currently, there is no mandated bereavement training for health care staff, leaving many providers feeling uncomfortable and/or unequipped to provide the quality of care needed for the families. The Bill Sweeney Perinatal Care Fund will encourage certification for health care providers who work with this population.

All proceeds from this gala will go directly to The Bill Sweeney Perinatal Care Fund to provide these services and education to the local community.

The Bachelor Boys Band will be performing live, there is a seated dinner, live auctions, silent auctions, 50/50 raffles, special performances, dancing and more. Black Tie Optional

To purchase tickets, make a donation, or be listed as a sponsor, please visit our website at www.billsweeneycharity.org.

The Bill Sweeney Perinatal Care Fund, Inc. is a not for profit 501(c) 3 with a mission to serve the community by providing the needed care and resources to plan, prepare, and cope with perinatal loss. President and Founder Heather Silver, LCSW-C, CPLC, of SilverLeaf Counseling Services, LLC., is a licensed clinical therapist and perinatal specialist who has been providing specialized care to families who have received a life threatening diagnosis for over 15 years.

Media inquiries should be directed to Heather Silver. 410.294.0152