From Staff Reports
ATLANTA — The Atlanta-based Mary Allen Lindsey Branan Foundation (Branan Foundation) awarded Sumter Regional Hospital Foundation (SRH Foundation) a grant of $200,000 designated for costs associated with construction of a permanent hospital facility.
“We are extremely grateful for the Brannan Foundation’s generous investment in our hospital’s redevelopment,” said Dr. Gatewood Dudley, SRH Foundation xhairman.
Dudley reported that the SRH Foundation Board of Trustees will review the terms and conditions of the grant award and determine the most effective use of this donation. In keeping with long-term Foundation policy, the grant funds will be deposited in one of the Foundation’s money market accounts held at local banks until a plan for the specific use of funds is developed and implemented.”
“The SRH Foundation submitted a proposal to the Branan Foundation in May 2008, which told the story of the total destruction of Sumter Regional Hospital and HealthPlex Wellness Center and the critical health care needs of the residents of our ten-county region, and we fortunate that they felt compelled to act on our behalf” said David H. Seagraves, SRH President and CEO. “I want to thank the Branan Foundation Trustees for their thoughtful consideration of our proposal and decision to award this significant donation. I also want to express my appreciation to the SRH Foundation Board of Trustees for their diligent and faithful service over the past two years.”
The Branan Trust was created under the will of Charles I. Branan, who died in 1929. It is named in memory of his beloved mother (born 1830-died 1915), who was left a widow with seven children. The trust is managed by Wachovia Bank and Alice J. Sheets, CFP, vice president and grants administrator for Wachovia Trust Department notified the SRH Foundation of the award.
Income of the Branan trust is distributed at least annually to organizations designated as non-profit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for relief of suffering and for charitable purposes including victims of disasters and care of the sick. In Branan’s will, he made no geographic restrictions on distributions. However, it has been the practice of the Trustee to make grants within the State of Georgia.
Sumter Regional Hospital Foundation, Inc. (SRH Foundation) is a Georgia non profit corporation that is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is operated exclusively for charitable, medical, educational and scientific purposes that enhance services of the local hospital and local medical community. As a separate legal entity from Sumter Regional Hospital and the Americus and Sumter County Hospital Authority, the SRH Foundation is not impacted by the proposed strategic alliance between the Hospital Authority and Phoebe Putney Health System.
SRH was destroyed by an EF-3 tornado on March 1, 2007. Since that time, SRH Foundation has been actively engaged in seeking grants from foundations outside the community that support disaster recovery and health care programs. Grant proposals target restoration and operation of critical health care service as quickly as possible through the interim hospital, Sumter Regional East, and for construction, equipment, and services for the permanent replacement hospital. In addition, SRHF received numerous donations from organizations and individuals within the community and across the nation wishing to invest in restoration of Sumter County health care services. A standard practice of many foundations is to retain a portion of every donation to cover foundation operating expenses. However, Sumter Regional Hospital covers all operating costs of the Foundation, allowing 100 percent of each donation to be used for the purpose chosen by each individual donor.
The SRH Foundation is directed by a Board of Trustees that serves without compensation for their service. Members include Dr. A Gatewood Dudley, chairman; David Seagraves, secretary; Rosie Burroughs, DMD; Billy Gatewood, Lara Gill, Bill Harris, Leon Holloway, Rick Whaley and Jean Wheeler. In the summer of 2008, Henry King Stanford, Ph.D., was awarded the status of Emeritus membership in the Foundation Board of Trustees following many years of distinguished service. He served as an emeritus member until his death on New Year’s Day this year.
For more information about Sumter Regional Hospital Foundation, contact Foundation director, Nyla Franklin at 924-6011 or visit www.sumterregional.org.
