Later this year, the new Chuck and Diane Stephens Hospice House will open its doors thanks to the generosity of donors, including those who participated in the Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) Foundation’s Medical Center Open golf tournament last week. The tournament, which has been raising funds for programs, initiatives, and organizations across Northeast Georgia for the last three decades, raised nearly $280,000 in support of the Hospice House.

​The Hospice House, which will begin seeing patients in December, is the first fully philanthropy-funded construction project in NGHS history. The team at the 16-bed facility will provide around-the-clock care and is named in honor of NGHS Foundation donors Chuck and Diane Stephens, whose gift of more than $5 million kicked off the project. Diane has also served on the NGHS Auxiliary Board and is an active volunteer at Northeast Georgia Medical Center(NGMC) Braselton. 

​“We are grateful for the exceptional generosity of Chuck and Diane, whose vision and trust have led us to this point,” said Natalie McNeal, director of Hospice of NGMC. “The goal of hospice is really focusing on comfort and quality of life while providing medical, emotional and spiritual support for patients and their loved ones. Our new space has been designed specifically to provide peace for those patients and their families, outside of the hospital setting.”

​72 golfers and 80 sponsors participated in the tournament, presented by Bank of America, on October 1 at Chicopee Woods Golf Course. 

​“We have a truly generous community,” said Dawn Marie Bernhard, chair of the Medical Center Open golf committee. “Thank you to Bank of America and other sponsors for your support. Your giving will serve this community for generations to come. I am also grateful beyond measure to the committee, whose hard work made all this possible.”

​The winning team included Mark Bombulie, Michael Kallab, Becky Neff, and Michael Tolbert.

​To learn more about other ways to support and engage with Northeast Georgia Health System, visit nghs.com/foundation.