Parkridge East celebrates 35th anniversary
What: Parkridge East Hospital celebrated its 35th anniversary of providing care to the community with a recent reception.
Special guests: In addition to several elected officials, some of Parkridge East’s previous chief executive officers attended, including Mark Sims, Jerri Underwood and Brenda Waltz.
Service recognition: Physicians recognized for service on the Parkridge East medical staff included Dr. William Rowe, Dr. Richard Bowers, Dr. Ronald Molloy, Dr. Ronald Brooksbank, Dr. William Findley, Dr. Edwin Shuck, Dr. C.Y. Liu, Dr. John Shull, Dr. Susan McLean, Dr. Minnie Vance and Dr. Gary Meredith. Staff recognized for their service included Peggy Clark, Carolyn Maxwell, Paula Coontz, Toni McCullough, Carrie Davidson, Cindy Price, Gary Evans, Joanna Ratchford, Judy Harris, Jessie Smiley and Veronica Head.
Road trip raises funds for Ronald McDonald Houses
What: Sisters Blair and Kelsea Hickman and their childhood friend, Stephanie Whitaker, made a 12,000-mile road trip to retrace a trip taken by the Hickmans’ mother, who died of cancer several years ago.
Benefits: The goal was to serve casserole dinners at nine Ronald McDonald Houses across the country and raise $6,000. That amount represented $1,000 for every year their mom was sick. Having met that goal, the girls are in the process of distributing funds to chapters of Ronald McDonald House Charities they visited.
Trip’s goal: “Our goal was to raise awareness about the importance of nonmedical support for families living with cancer,” said Blair Hickman. “We decided to travel around the country serving casseroles. Because what do communities do when people get sick? They make food. In the South, the casserole is the ultimate symbol of support.”
About the Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House: The 26-bedroom house provides accommodations for about 600 families of critically injured and seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals in Chattanooga each year.
Northwest Bank makes three donations
What: The 21st annual Northwest Georgia Bank Foundation Golf Benefit was held at Lookout Mountain Golf Club. Ringgold Telephone Co. and Independent Living Aids/Fuller Rehabilitation were top sponsors, followed by more than 200 additional sponsors at various funding levels.
Benefits: The tournament netted almost $100,000, which will support North Georgia and Chattanooga charities. Recent recipients include Chattanooga State Community College, Lookout Mountain Conservancy and Junior Achievement of Chattanooga.
What: Northwest Georgia Bank Navigators raised more than $4,800 from pin-up sponsorships to support the 12th annual St. Jude Rodeo at Yates Farm.
Benefits: Including funds raised from a spring car show, Northwest Navigators donated $5,300 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. During 2009, Navigators donated $8,200 to St. Jude.
What: Northwest Georgia Bank Navigators raised $3,900 in pledges for their participation in Strike for Education Rock ‘n’ Bowl held at Holiday Bowl.
Benefits: Junior Achievement of Chattanooga.
Top score: Of the 100 participating teams, Northwest won the Battle of the Banks trophy for raising more money than any other financial institution.
Donation funds Volkswagen Challenge at UTC
What: Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations, LLC, presented the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a $1 million check representing the company’s philanthropic commitment to the Partners in Education program.
Benefits: The donation allowed UTC to establish the Volkswagen Competitive Challenge, providing financial support to students for team projects, support for faculty research, travel, recruitment and outreach, particularly in the areas of engineering, international studies and computer and environmental science.