Holiday shoppers are also making the region a safer place for kids, as they contributed to Northeast Georgia Health System’s (NGHS) annual Marketplace eventraising more than $320,000 in support of Safe Kids Northeast Georgia, the largest amount raised at the annual event. Safe Kids’ mission is to reduce the number of accidental injuries to children through community partnerships, advocacy, public awareness and distribution of safety equipment.
“Safe Kids’ vision is for the children of Hall, Lumpkin and Barrow County to have a safe place to grow and play, free from accidental injuries,” said Jessica Mantooth, trauma program director for Northeast Georgia Medical Center. “The important work we are doing in the community could not be possible without funds raised through Marketplace. What might seem just like a fun event to kick off the holiday season is really a way to make our community safer.”
This year’s Marketplace, presented by Willis Investment Counsel, was held at the Ramsey Conference Center at Lanier Technical College last weekend. It featured more than 60 merchants, family-friendly activities like cookie decorating and photos with Santa, an Artist’s Row featuring local art, a shopping area exclusively for men, a food court and more.
Planning for the event has been overseen for the last two years by volunteer tri-chairs Angie Kennedy, Annie Stanley and Daphaney Teaver and their committees.
“Angie, Annie and Daphaney brought tremendous passion and leadership to every detail of this year’s event,” said Natalie Challen, president of the NGHS Auxiliary. “It’s wonderful to see how they put their own spin on the event while continuing the legacy of all the tri-chairs who came before them over the last 30 years.”
The three-day event kicked off with the Preview Party on Thursday night with food, entertainment and a live auction. Some of the items available to bid on included a guitar autographed by Taylor Swift, a two-day quail hunt at the Dorchester Hunting Preserve in Savannah, and a seven-day luxury safari through Northern Tanzania.
“We are so grateful to those who generously donated these unique packages for our guests to bid on and enjoy,” said Teaver. “We are glad to be able to provide such elevated and thoughtfully curated experiences we know people aren’t able to find anywhere else.”
To learn more about how you can support healthcare initiatives that benefit the region, visit nghs.com/foundation.
About NGHS
Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is a non-profit on a mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. Our team cares for more than 1 million people across the region through five hospitals and a variety of outpatient locations. Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) has campuses in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest – with a total of more than 1,000 beds and more than 1,500 medical staff members representing more than 60 specialties. Learn more at www.nghs.com.