Meadows New Foundation Grants $350,000 to Local Charities
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Excitement was in the air on Monday, December 16, as the Meadows New Foundation presented grants totaling $350,000 to 8 local charities.
The Meadows New Foundation was created after the sale of the former Meadows Regional Medical Center to the HCA Corporation on April 30, 2021. “The sale of the hospital generated some funding that we have invested thanks to the leadership of the Board. Because of their guidance and leadership in making those good, solid investments that are growing, we have had the opportunity to provide grants to the community to help with health and wellness and education programs – to give people access to care and needed education so that they can stay well, or if they’re having chronic issues or problems, they can get connected to care,” Foundation Executive Director Susan McLendon explained.
Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Mike Calhoun added, “The Foundation was charged with the purpose of providing funds for the improvement of the health of the citizens of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler counties. Any way that we can do that within our mission perimeters is what we strive to do.”
Nine total charities applied for this year’s grants, which were awarded to eight of these applicants: Emanuel County Child Abuse Prevention’s Prevention, Healing, and Justice Project, which works to provide child advocacy for children and families experiencing abuse Mercy Medical Clinic and Foundation, which is working to expand their dental care and health screenings to those in need Rachel's House Pregnancy Resource Clinic, which works to provide prenatal care, access to education, and parenting classes to soon-to-be mothers Southeast Geor gia Community Project’s Language Education and Patient Services project, which works to improve health access for the local latino community, especially migrant and seasonal workers Southeast Georgia Rural Community Network’s Southeast Georgia Cancer Prevention Program, which is focusing on providing screening and diagnostic mammograms and colonoscopies to help prevent breast and colon cancer SafeKids of Geor gia’s Healthy Community Project, which focuses on safety and prevention programs, literacy, and parent and caregiver support for children at risk of entering foster care Brewton-Parker Col lege’s Nursing Scholarship, which hopes to help increase the nursing workforce in rural areas Gardens of Hope Recovery Community Organization (RCO)’s Sustaining Hope: Peer Connection Program, which provides peer support through in-person and telehealth communications with patients suffering from drug addiction issues “The people that were awarded the funding this year have very diverse programs. Every person that was awarded funds is doing something that we identified as a tremendous need in our community. So, I am so proud of the opportunity to award these funds because you are doing great work,” McLendon remarked on the presentations.
Calhoun added, “Thank you to everyone for the things that you do in our community. Hopefully, these grants will help in furthering your projects continued from page
and missions to make our community a better place to live, and hopefully, our Foundation will be able to continue to prosper and serve our community in this grant-producing manner.”
Mercy Medical Clinic and Foundation Executive Director Clint Hutcheson thanked the Board and Foundation on behalf of the recipients. “I appreciate the leadership on that; I know that selling the hospital was a long process and building this foundation was tough. But the fact that this money is staying in the community and growing is amazing,” he emphasized.
Before adjourning the ceremony, McLendon and Chairman Calhoun recognized the remainder of the members of the Meadows New Foundation Board of Directors – Vice Chairman Reid McArthur, Secretary/ Treasurer Dennis Ingley, Tim Truxel, Pollann Martin, Ronnie Stewart, Angie McDaniel, Brandon Boston, and Blake Tillery – and the Foundation Administrative Assistant Angie Anderson, as they thanked these individuals for all that they do.
“This is just the beginning; we see that this is going to grow, thanks to the leadership we have. We are going to be able to address tremendous needs and have a tremendous impact,” McLendon concluded.
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA RURAL COMMUNITY NETWORK – Southeast Georgia Rural Community Network Executive Director Susan McLendon, Meadows New Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Mike Calhoun.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
SAFEKIDS OF GEORGIA – Meadows New Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Mike Calhoun, SafeKids of Toombs County Representative Robert Tillman, SafeKidsof Toombs County Representative Jamie Byrd.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
MERCY MEDICAL CLINIC AND FOUNDATION – L to R: Meadows New Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Mike Calhoun, Mercy Medical Clinic and Foundation ExecutiveDirector Clint Hutcheson.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
GARDENS OF HOPE RCO – Meadows New Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Mike Calhoun, Gardens of Hope Recovery Community Organization (RCO) Executive Director Craig George.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
BREWTON-PARKER COLLEGE – Meadows New Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Mike Calhoun, Brewton- Parker College President Steve Echols.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA COMMUNITY PROJECTS – L to R: Southeast Georgia Community Projects Office Manager Corina Flores, Meadows New Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Mike Calhoun.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
RACHEL’S HOUSE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CLINIC – L to R: Rachel’s House Pregnancy Resource Clinic Executive Director Elaine Deloach, Meadows New Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Mike Calhoun.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
