Bloodview Haunted House presents checks to charities
by Dan Holland
Representatives of Bloodview Haunted House and the Broadview Heights Lions Club presented checks totaling $16,000 to three children’s cancer charity groups at the annual Bloodview Banquet held Nov. 11 at the Woodside Event Center at St. Michael’s.
The seasonal attraction, which just completed its 43rd season in operation, donates all proceeds to a variety of local, national and worldwide charities.
This year, a $6,000 check was presented to Special Spaces, a non-profit organization that creates “dream bedroom” makeovers for children battling cancer. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital received $5,000 and The Cure Starts Now also received $5,000.
“We took our three Sundays this season and divided up the proceeds from each night to benefit a specific charity,” said Bloodview Director Steve Gwiazda. “We started St. Jude Sunday three or four years ago, and we’ve given them around $30,000 so far. St. Jude is a charity close to me, but we decided to spread out the giving this year.”
Additionally, Gwiazda was presented the “Media Darling” communications award from The Legion of Terror – the attraction’s horror acting troupe – for coordinating a patron’s marriage proposal on Halloween night with local media that ended up being picked up nationally and internationally.
“Victoria Fleischer at CNN called and said she wanted to talk to me about the proposal at Bloodview,” said Gwiazda. “I’ve seen the story bounce around everywhere; it bounced around the whole world. As a result, Bloodview is now on the map worldwide.” ∞
Steve Gwiazda was presented with the “Media Darling” communications award from Ed McDonald of Legion of Terror.
Photo (main/above): Bloodview Director Steve Gwiazda, Broadview Heights Lions Club Public Relations Director Kevin Barrett and Lions Club Treasurer Roger Bundy hold up a check made out to Special Spaces for $6,000.