From l to r, Mark George, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern and John Kueven, president of NGMC Gainesville and chief operating officer for Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS).
Thanks to a $300,000 donation from Norfolk Southern, pediatric patients at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville will soon have a new outdoor therapeutic playground to help them feel better faster.
“We hope that when people see more Norfolk Southern trains roll through Northeast Georgia in the coming years, they see more than just a passing locomotive,” said Mark George, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern. “We hope those trains are a reminder of our long-term commitment to supporting a thriving community and serving as a beacon of sustainable, reliable transport. This new playground is a reflection of that commitment—an investment in the well-being of families in this region and a tribute to the incredible, life-saving work being done every day at NGMC Gainesville.”
Norfolk Southern and NGHS leaders tour the site of the new pediatric playground, led by the Director of Pediatric Services at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gentry Hunt.
NGMC Gainesville originally built a pediatric playground in 2007 with funds from the Jim, Greg & Steve Syfan Family Foundation, but the playground was closed in 2019 due to its age. Now, Syfan Logistics has committed $100,000, in addition to the Norfolk Southern gift, toward building the new playground.
“Being stuck inside, in a hospital bed, can be challenging for our young patients,” said Gentry Hunt, MSN, director of Pediatric Services at NGMC. “The playground was often the highlight of their stay with us – getting outside in the sunshine and fresh air – so we’re excited we’ll be able to offer that joy to them again.”
“Thanks to Norfolk Southern and others, we will be able to provide a safe and fun play area for our pediatric patients,” said John Kueven, president of NGMC Gainesville and chief operating officer for Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS).
The NGHS Foundation has already started planning for construction.
“Every child deserves a chance to play, especially during challenging medical treatments,” said Chris Bray, NGHS Foundation president and chief philanthropy officer for NGHS. “We invite our community to join Norfolk Southern and Syfan Logistics to make a gift to our Foundation to help make this space a reality for our youngest patients.”
To donate to the NGHS Foundation and help raise funds for this rebuild project, please visit nghs.com/give.