News Releases

September 29, 2005
Callaway Foundation poses challenge to the community

Callaway Foundation, Inc. recently approved a $2 million challenge grant to the West Georgia Health Foundation to support construction of a new and expanded emergency department at West Georgia Health System.

This grant came as welcome news to the foundation's 70 community volunteers, who have been working for more than a year to launch fund-raising efforts for the new emergency department.  

ìThis commitment really sets the tone for our campaign,î says West Georgia Health Foundation Chairman John Jackson, DMD. ìLike much of Troup County, West Georgia Health System is a better place because of years of generosity bestowed by the Callaway Foundation.   We are so grateful that they again have taken a lead role to help support our quest to improve the quality of health care for the people of our community.î

              With this addition of this challenge grant, the West Georgia Health Foundation has raised approximately $3 million to date, with WGHS employees pledging $450,000, the WGHS Auxiliary donating $150,000, and community individuals and businesses donating approximately $400,000. The Foundation plans to raise at least $1.1 million more to match the challenge grant issued by the Callaway Foundation.

              ìThe impact of a donation like this gift from the Callaway Foundation cannot be overstated. I have personally witnessed the power of philanthropy in hospitals across the country and have seen generosity transform a health care organization,î says WGHS President/CEO Jerry Fulks.   ìWe are thrilled by this generous gift from the Callaway Foundation and uplifted by the support we have already garnered from our employees and members of our community.î

The West Georgia Health Foundation's board of directors considered several possible projects to support for its first fund-raising campaign. After careful review, they selected the emergency department.

  ìLast fall, s everal departments and divisions of West Georgia Health System submitted proposals that they believed would benefit patients, families and the overall community,î explains Foundation Director Tripp Penn. ìThe members of the West Georgia Health Foundation board carefully reviewed each of these worthwhile proposals and ultimately selected the Emergency Department expansion -- primarily because of the large volume of patients seeking care from the ED each year. Of all the projects they considered, our board members believed this project would create the greatest impact for the people in our community.î

The current WGHS emergency department was built in the early '90s to accommodate as many as 24,000 visits annually; however, in 2004 the facility hosted more than 36,000 visits. That number continues to grow.   The logjam created by overcrowding can lead to long wait times for patients during peak hours.  

ìOur staff members want to treat people as quickly as possible, but the space constraints often make it difficult,î says Randy Calhoun, RN, nurse manager for the emergency department. ìPeople expect to be seen in a timely manner and they deserve itÖthis new facility will help us to do just that.î  

The expanded emergency department will grow from 13,000 to 27,000 square feet and from 12 small treatment rooms to 30 spacious rooms. Other planned improvements   include attractive waiting areas and restrooms; improved designated parking and covered patient drop-off; relocated entrance to a more visible, easily accessible location; fast track program for minor injuries or non-emergency illnesses; bedside registration; reduced waiting times and new lifesaving equipment and technology. The project is part of a larger expansion plan for the hospital and is scheduled for completion by mid-2009.

Approved as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization last October, the West Georgia Health Foundation was created to support the vision of West Georgia Health System.   Community and employee volunteers work together through the Foundation to raise money from individuals, corporations and other foundations. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible, and every dollar given is used to support a project, program or service identified as a top priority by the Foundation's Board of Directors.  

The community volunteers who comprise the Foundation's board are: John Jackson, Jr., DMD, chair; Gail Hunnicutt, vice chair; Esther Rainey, treasurer; Patrick Crews, corporate gifts chair; Susan Ferguson, annual gifts chair; Pat Malone, signature gifts chair; Jim Thornton, planned gifts chair; John Holle, special gifts chair; Jane Alice Craig, Frank Lewis, James McGowan, MD, and Sandy Simmons, MD, at-large members; Jean Crocker, WGHS Auxiliary representative; and Bobby Carmichael, WGHS Board-appointed member. Rounding out the Foundation's board are the health system's CEO, Jerry Fulks, who serves as secretary to the Foundation board; and Patient Educator Wanda Lowe, RN, who chairs the employee gifts committee.

For more information about the emergency department project or the West Georgia Health Foundation , please call (706) 845-3215.                 

Held in honor of National Nutrition Month, this month-long program consists of using a highly sensitive pedometer, which can be clipped to a pocket or waistband, to measure the number of steps each person takes in one day.By adding enough steps to this routine number to total 10,000, participants can achieve the equivalent of a daily workout.

"Exercise has been proven to promote weight control, increase energy, and reduce the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and other diseases," says Linda Mack, MS, RD, CDE, Director of Nutrition Services for WGHS. "Studies also show that the exercise does not have to be a 'formal' program, but can consist of a brisk walk for 10 minutes, 3 times a day, or walking 10,000 steps every day."

She states that "10,000 steps can be easily be achieved by taking the stairs, parking farther away in the parking lot, taking a quick walk after lunch, walking to meetings, etc.

The $25 adult registration fee includes a pedometer, t-shirt, personal radio, walking diary, and other program materials.The 10,000 Steps program will culminate with the 2003 American Cancer Society Relay for Life walk on April 25-26.Program participants may join the other walkers for the event.

Additional sponsors include the City of LaGrange, Kroger, and the LaGrange Mall. To learn more about the program, call (706) 845-3185.