Later this year, the new Chuck and Diane Stephens Hospice House will open its doors thanks to the generosity of donors, including those who participated in the Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) Foundation’s Medical Center Open golf tournament last week. The tournament, which has been raising funds for programs, initiatives, and organizations across Northeast Georgia for the last three decades, raised nearly $280,000 in support of the Hospice House.
The Hospice House, which will begin seeing patients in December, is the first fully philanthropy-funded construction project in NGHS history. The team at the 16-bed facility will provide around-the-clock care and is named in honor of NGHS Foundation donors Chuck and Diane Stephens, whose gift of more than $5 million kicked off the project. Diane has also served on the NGHS Auxiliary Board and is an active volunteer at Northeast Georgia Medical Center(NGMC) Braselton.
“We are grateful for the exceptional generosity of Chuck and Diane, whose vision and trust have led us to this point,” said Natalie McNeal, director of Hospice of NGMC. “The goal of hospice is really focusing on comfort and quality of life while providing medical, emotional and spiritual support for patients and their loved ones. Our new space has been designed specifically to provide peace for those patients and their families, outside of the hospital setting.”
72 golfers and 80 sponsors participated in the tournament, presented by Bank of America, on October 1 at Chicopee Woods Golf Course.
“We have a truly generous community,” said Dawn Marie Bernhard, chair of the Medical Center Open golf committee. “Thank you to Bank of America and other sponsors for your support. Your giving will serve this community for generations to come. I am also grateful beyond measure to the committee, whose hard work made all this possible.”
The winning team included Mark Bombulie, Michael Kallab, Becky Neff, and Michael Tolbert.
To learn more about other ways to support and engage with Northeast Georgia Health System, 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 of more than 1,500 medical staff members representing more than 60 specialties cares for more than 1 million people across the region through seven hospitals and dozens of other locations and practices. Our acute care hospitals, Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC), have a total of more than 1,000 beds across a Level I Trauma Center in Gainesville and other locations in Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest. NGHS’ specialty hospitals also provide individualized rehabilitation programs for medical conditions and injuries through The Rehabilitation Institute in Gainesville, as well as inpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment at Laurelwood on the campus of NGMC Gainesville. Learn more at nghs.com.
About NGHS Foundation
Founded in 1986, the Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation has contributed millions of dollars to health system improvements, complementary programs and partner organizations throughout the region. In an effort to further the mission of improving the health of our community in all we do, donations to the Foundation help support innovation and enhancements at all seven of Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s hospitals, as well as many health initiatives of the system. It is truly through the generosity of friends and neighbors that many critical, life-saving projects, improvements and patient care services are available today. For more information, visit nghs.com/foundation.