
Office of Philanthropy
Your Donations At Work
Covenant Health Office of Philanthropy
Below are a few of the many examples of how your philanthropic contributions make a difference:
Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center
Philanthropy has been at the heart of the nationally-recognized Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center since its creation in 1978. Named for Academy award-winning actress Patricia Neal, the Center reflects her tenacity and spirit shown through her incredible recovery from three massive strokes.
In 2001, the Fort Sanders Foundation garnered additional funding for the Center through the 17th annual BellSouth/Patricia Neal Golf Classic and the second annual Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center's Spring Fling for Friends of Patricia Neal Rehab Center. The two tournaments netted more than $193,000 for the services and programs of the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center.
Peninsula Village
The algebra textbooks being used at Peninsula Village for grades 7-12 were more than 15 years old. The children who are in long-term care at the Village are provided the best education possible while undergoing their treatment. A grant provided by the Fort Sanders Foundation allowed the Village to update their textbooks and prepare students for standardized competency testing, just as they would have been instructed in their hometown schools.
A Galaxy of Fun
Each year, the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation hosts its annual "Las Vegas Night" event. Last year's theme, "2001: A Las Vegas Odyssey," totaled more than $12,200 in proceeds. The funds allowed the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation to purchase an IV fluid warmer to increase patient comfort in the emergency room; two EKG modules, which equip the cardiopulmonary department to handle high patient volumes; and a centrifuge to separate blood components for the lab at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center.
Programs and Services
The Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation also supports a variety of programs and services to the Sevier County community, including physical therapy staff training, scholarships for cardiac rehabilitation classes, services for the Sevier County Senior Center, and funds to purchase baby scales and supplies for prenatal classes at the Fort Sanders Sevier Women's Health Center.
Katerpillar Kids Camp
Last year, more than 80 children from grades K-12 shared in Katerpillar Kids Camp - a weekend long bereavement camp that is designed specifically for kids who have experienced the death of a significant loved one. Katerpillar Kids Camp, sponsored last year by the Methodist Medical Center Foundation, provides a safe and nurturing environment where children can share similar experiences of grief. Trained and experienced camp counselors provide guidance and information to campers as they listen with open minds, hearts, and ears. Children attend the camp free of charge, thanks to your contributions.
Jane Manly Quiet Room
Thanks to the generosity of longtime Methodist Medical Center Foundation supporter Bill Manly, the Jane Manly Quiet Room was established at Methodist Medical Center. The Jane Manly Quiet Room, named after dedicated to Mr. Manly's late wife, is a place for grieving families to gather in a quiet environment to discuss their options.
Strategic Partnerships for Leading-Edge Technology
Covenant Health and Thompson Cancer Survival Center have partnered with leading medical technology firm CTI to form an international research and training center for new medical imaging systems.
The first scanning device installed at Thompson was the ECAT ACCEL PET scanner. PET technology allows physicians to view information about the body's chemistry that is not available with other imaging techniques. Unlike X-rays, CT scans or MRI, which show only body structure, the ACCEL scanner reveals metabolic information. This allows for earlier and more accurate diagnosis of disease and illness.
Last fall, the latest PET technology became available at Thompson via the ACCEL Scanner. This diagnostic imaging scanner, made with patented technology, has superior accuracy, reducing whole body scanning time from 40 to 20 minutes. This ACCEL scanner is the only one of its kind in the Southeastern United States.
The power of PET medical imaging technology enables physicians to view how organ systems of the body are functioning at a cellular level. PET is unsurpassed as a definitive diagnostic tool because it can help the physician detect cancer and determine appropriate treatment for the disease, and efficiently track the body's response to treatment.
This leading-edge technology is made possible, in part, by contributions to the Thompson Cancer Survival Center Foundation.
BUDDY'S Race Against Cancer
For the past eight years, the BUDDY'S Race Against Cancer has raised more than $1.2 million and allows Thompson Cancer Survival Center to take cancer care to communities with a big need and little opportunity. For more than a decade the Cancer Outreach Services team at Thompson has been mobilizing much needed cancer screening and education services - delivering these services to people who desperately need them. Breast cancer screenings, prostate cancer screenings, cervical cancer screenings, and education are just a few of the many services provided each week in impoverished and high-risk areas throughout the region. Without the generosity from the BUDDY'S Race Against Cancer sponsors, participants, and volunteers, these outreach services simply would not be possible.
Support for state-of-the-art CT Simulators
In early 2001, two of the world's newest simulators were installed at Thompson Cancer Survival Center's downtown and west locations. The new CT Simulators give radiation oncologists the ability to service all the needs of patients who require CT images for therapeutic treatment planning. Because of your contributions to the Thompson Cancer Survival Center Foundation, this technology streamlines the process for the patient and allows the staff to monitor patient information directly instead of after the fact.