For almost 200 years, University Hospital has served the CSRA. Founded in 1818 as the city hospital for the poor and named University Hospital by the Georgia Legislature in 1919, University Hospital and University Health Care System continue the tradition of care as a community, non-profit healthcare provider.

A primary objective is now and always has been to serve patients with cutting edge medical care regardless of ability to pay. To ensure quality services and state-of-the-art technology continue to be available to clients of the expanding University Health Care System, the University Health Care Foundation was established in 1978 by Harry W. Jernigan and Ed Gillespie, a board member and the CEO, respectively, at the time. “They recognized that people’s philanthropy could be leveraged to help the hospital,” says Laurie Ott, President, University Health Care Foundation. “Our founding mission is to leverage people’s time, talent and resources for the benefit of University Health Care System. It’s about taking care of people, the mission to take care of the community.”

The Foundation provides the public an avenue through which to transform the lives of their fellow citizens. Ott says, “Philanthropy can make the difference between a good hospital and a great hospital.” One hundred percent of monetary contributions made to the Foundation go where donors direct them. Ott and her staff manage approximately $34 million in endowments and funds. “We’re an affiliate of University Health Care System,” explains Ott. “We exist solely for this purpose.”

Over 100 endowments and funds have been established over the years for a variety of uses. The Patchin-Weston Endowment established by Dr. Michael Shlaer, M.D. honors Dr. Shlaer’s former patient, Art Patchin, Jr., and a former Foundation volunteer, Will Weston, by providing assistance to patients with serious illnesses who are facing financial crises. It forestalls interruption of critical medical intervention due to inability to pay. The W.G. “Curly” Watson, M.D., Education Endowment grants scholarships for continuing education in nursing and other academic pursuits. The John W. Kelley, M. D., Cardiovascular Endowment promotes education and training of students within the Harry T. Harper School of Cardiac and Vascular Technology at University Hospital, as well as continuing education for employees of the cath lab. The full list of endowments is found online: http://www.universityhealth.org/endowments.

Fund-raising events are also planned and directed by the Foundation. Each spring, the annual Jernigan Memorial Golf Tournament raises monies to support the Jernigan Cancer Center. “This past year the proceeds were more than $200,000,” Ott says. The money was used to renovate the family room at the cancer center. Proceeds from the 2014 and 2015 tournaments will pay for patient room renovations.

Each October, the University Health Care Foundation undertakes the Miracle Mile Walk to benefit the Mobile Mammography program. Ott says, “About 10,000 people join us at the Augusta Commons. The whole downtown turns pink.” October 2014 will mark the 14^th year for the event, which was the brainchild of Queenie Jones, a former volunteer, and which ensures that uninsured and underinsured women receive breast cancer early detection screenings. Corporate sponsors, volunteers and participants keep the goodwill going. Go to www.themiraclemilewalk.org to learn more and get involved.

Ott and her staff are fortunate to have enthusiastic volunteers who work tirelessly to raise funds in support of endowments and other projects. The Young Philanthropists, for example, were behind the 2011 Lady Antebellum concert at Lady A Amphitheater in Columbia County. Proceeds from the event benefitted the Dr. John W. Kelley, M.D., Cardiovascular Endowment. This year, Charles Kelley and his brothers, Josh and John, are hosting the inaugural Kelley Brothers and Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament and Concert. The tournament will be held at Champions Retreat on October 27 and the concert, with special guests, will follow at the Lady A Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. A portion of the funds raised will be given to their father’s endowment.

In its most recent report distributed in August 2014, the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) calculates that the University Hospital alone delivers uncompensated patient care equaling approximately $2.9 million. In addition, GHA estimates that the hospital generates nearly 6000 jobs resulting in a payroll of more than $1.8 million. Total expenditures in the local and state economies amount to over $3.6 million. These figures are for the hospital alone and do not include University Health Care System’s other service delivery mechanisms. The ripple effect of University Health Care System impacts lives in Augusta and Georgia far beyond the day-to-day direct medical services. Everyone benefits from its commitment to excellence and the University Health Care Foundation’s drive to sustain and multiply that excellence.