Hugh Chatham Memorial hospital received a check for $501,575 on Wednesday from the Hugh Chatham Foundation. The funds are part of the $5 million dollar commitment from the foundation towards the new facilities tower that opened last fall.

Dr. Jim Harrell Sr., foundation chairman, and Jeanette Hendrick, director of the foundation presented the hospital's CEO David Loving and hospital board member, J. L. Lowe Jr. with the check, bringing the total funds from the foundation to $4,452,101.

"Our goal was to raise $5 million for the new part of the hospital," Harrell said. "We are continuing to raise funds for the capital campaign through the foundation. We are real pleased to be at the point we are now.

"The money came from our general fund," he said. "These funds are part of donations from $5 and up from area residents, patients, and those who care about providing health care to everyone. Hugh Chatham is a non-profit hospital and these funds help us provide health care to those who need it regardless of circumstance."

Loving thanked the foundation for the money.

"I want to thank the foundation for their spirit, foresight and tenacity and especially Dr. Harrell and J. L. for their undying commitment to the $50 million dollar project," Loving said. "Without the spirit and commitment of the foundation, the project may not have been possible. And the commitment of the community through their love and respect of this hospital has made the project possible.

"We not only have a new medical facility that is state-of-the-art, but we also have wonderful physicians and those who specialize in fields where patients who need extensive medical care can now receive it close to home. The hospital board has been working on their strategic plan for the next phase of the hospital. The plan looks forward for three years. With the ever changing improvements in the medical field, this allows the hospital to stay on the cutting edge of technology."

Lowe spoke of the decision to build the new facility and the commitment of the foundation and the community.

"We started the plans for the project before the recession hit," Lowe said. "Once the recession hit, we re-evaluated our decision, but with the commitment of the foundation to provide $5 million, or 10 percent of the funds needed for the $50 million dollar project. We felt the community needed to have access to as much of the new technology in health care we could provide.

"The original hospital was built during the great depression in the 1930s, and has been strong since it started. The employees, the board, the foundation, local businesses and the local citizens have all made a commitment to provide the area with quality health care and have given generously to the project. This shows the commitment of the community to the hospital.

"The hospital is owned by the community," Lowe said. "The hospital board runs the hospital, but the community owns it."

"When Dr. Dawson finished the initial phase of the capital campaign, we've been doing the rest of the fund raising on our own," Harrell said. "The foundation is continuing to solicit funds from residents and accepting commitments from anyone wanting to contribute the project. Jeanette (Hendrick), has done a wonderful job calling on past donors and applying for funds and grants."

Hendrick spoke of some of the grants applied for and received by the hospital.

"We've been very fortunate to have received grants from several foundations and endowments," Hendrick said. "We've received funds from the Winston-Salem Foundation, the Duke Endowment Fund, the John Wesley and Anne Hanes foundations, Wachovia, Golden Leaf, the Kate B. Reynolds Foundation and many others.

"We are also looking at applying for funds from other sources such as Armfield, Pepsi, and CVS," she said. "There are small stipends we may qualify for also. I believe we've been so fortunate because of the dedication of the hospital to provide state-of-the-art technology and quality health care to the region.

"We've also been blessed by the dedication of residents in the area with their donations," Hendrick said. "Some of our pledges from residents are for one year, some for five years. We will be going back to those who made one year commitments and asking them to renew their commitments. With the economy in the state it was as we started the project, we feel that there were those who wanted to make a longer commitment, but were waiting to see where the economy was headed."

Lowe said he believed that between the generous donations of the donors and the grants that the difference in the total received and the goal amount would be reached.

"We have received donations from 32 states and several foreign countries," Hendrick said. "People who were once residents, people who have family members, and people who believe in providing health care to all residents have donated graciously."

Loving spoke of the commitment to the hospital and its employees and patients that the hospital board has.

"Our board is committed to providing the best possible medical care to all patients," Loving said. "Their commitment to continuing with the new hospital facility even when the recession hit showed their understanding of continuing to strive for excellence. The dedication to the community, to our staff, and most of all to providing services here at home for residents of the area is obvious as you look at our new facility.

"The board made decisions concerning patient care and consideration for family members by providing family members a built in couch/daybed that was not yet on the market," he said. "We have been given so many compliments by our patients and their family members about the comfortability of the patient rooms and access to services provided by the hospital. No one wishes to have to stay in the hospital, but by providing a more comfortable setting, the patient is able to focus on their well being.

"And our employees and volunteers, there is just no way to beat the quality care given to patients by our employees," he said. "The volunteers are an extremely important part of Hugh Chatham Memorial. When you arrive, a volunteer is there to guide you. While you're here, a volunteer is at hand ready to assist you, and when you leave, a volunteer helps with anything you need. The volunteers cover this hospital and we are very grateful for their service."

Lowe said that the hospital board believes they have all the pieces together.

"We work together at Hugh Chatham," Lowe said. "The board works with the hospital staff and employees, and all work with the patients and the community. There are a lot of good people at Hugh Chatham."

Hugh Chatham's hospital board is made up of 16 members that includes the hospital chief of staff along with at least one additional medical representative and members of the community whose goal is to make the best decisions for the people of the area when it comes to providing health care," Lowe said. "We are blessed with the caliber of people on the hospital board."

At the inception of the project, just after the recession hit, the board was able to sell $40 million in bonds on the stock market. These bonds funded the majority of the new facility.

"I believe because of the history of Hugh Chatham and its commitment to the community and health care is why we were able to sell our bonds quickly and with no trouble," Harrell said. "We have a very good rating and our hospital is financially secure. We have many people to thank for that. The Hugh Chatham Foundation is dedicated to continuing our efforts to provide the residents of the community with the best in services."