Women’s Giving Circle

Women throughout the nation are joining forces for good. Giving Circles are cultivating increased philanthropy by providing women with opportunities to impact their local communities through collaborative giving efforts. The Augusta Health Foundation Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) focuses on current health issues for women, enabling them to support health and wellness causes that affect our community.

Open to all women, the WGC was founded in 2017 with 20 Founding Members. For their initial philanthropic endeavor, the women selected the new Forensics Room in the Emergency Department, for victims of sexual assault and strangulation, as their first named opportunity. In the following years, the WGC has supported:

• Emergency Department expansion
• 3-D mammography technology
• Forensic archival system for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
• Breast Center at the Outpatient Pavilion

In addition to investing in local health care and the success of Augusta Health, the WGC meets three times a year to learn about important women’s health issues from local health experts.

Topics have included:

• Robotic Surgery – Margaret Flather, MD, Gynecology
• Forensics Program – Renee Pullen, BSN, Emergency Department
• Arrhythmia: “What Makes Women Tick” – Glenn Brammer, MD, Cardiologist
• Moles and Other Skin Concerns – Kristen Savola, MD, Dermatologist
• Cancer in Women – Kelvin Raybon, MD, Hematology/Oncology
• Preventing Falls and Bone Injuries – Thomas Pereles, MD, Orthopedist
• Where Did I Leave That: Age Related Difficulties – Robert McMahon, MD, Neurology
• Metabolic Diseases: What Women Should Know – Nelly Maybee, MD
• The Heart of It: Cardiovascular Disease in Women – April Shewmake, DO and LeAnn Denlinger, MD
• Digestive Wellness Center: A new practice at Augusta Health – Savita Srivastava, MD

Not only do they attend the WGC events, but this diverse group of women meets for an impromptu coffee to talk about issues that are important to them. When Renee Pullen, the SANE Program Coordinator, notified the Foundation that they were in need of clothing for sexual assault victims who had to leave their clothing behind as evidence. The WGC quickly stepped into action, went shopping, and were able to stock the SANE closet with needed items. These generous women are committed to making a difference.

Membership

If you’d like to impact the healthcare of your local community by working with other women to make a difference, please consider joining the Augusta Health Foundation Women’s Giving Circle. A pledge of $1,000 per year for three years is required. Your pledge, combined with other members, funds the annual projects.

Email ahfoundation@augustahealth.com for more information.

Our Members