Fall 2021
Includes the 2021 Impact Report
News from Rex Healthcare Foundation
Philanthropy Legacy:
Anderson Family Leads Cancer Center Efforts
Respite & Reflection
Sacred to Holly Springs MLK Committee
AngelEye Technology
Gives NICU Parents a Window into Care
Dr. A. Dawan Gunter, OBGYN at Rex Holly Springs Hospital.
Inside This Issue A Message of Gratitude.........................................................................3 Dr. A. Dawan Gunter and Team Prepare to Welcome New Babies in Southern Wake County........................ 4-5 NICU AngelEye Camera System: A Picture is Worth More Than a Thousand Words ...................................................... 6-7 Holly Springs MLK Jr. Committee Names Sacred Space..................... 8-9
2021 Impact Report........................................ 10-11 Marge Madness for 3D Mammograms.......................................... 12-13 A Multi-generational Legacy of Philanthropy................................. 14-15 UNC Rex Healthcare Trustees.............................................................. 15 Rex Hospital Open.......................................................................... 16-17 Foundation Staff.................................................................................. 17 Honoring Our Teammates: 2020-21 Acorn Pin Recipients.................. 18 Turning Pain into Smiles: Meg’s Smile Foundation Names New Rex Holly Springs Hospital Play Space........................ 19
2500 Blue Ridge Rd., Suite 325 | Raleigh, NC 27607 rex.foundation@unchealth.unc.edu | (919) 784-4424 RexHealthcareFoundation.com Editor: Jackie Leach Pierce Special acknowledgement to Laurie’s Write Touch!, Partin Design Group and Brian Strickland Photography Inside front cover: Two sculptures grace the Rex Holly Springs Hospital campus – one in honor of Holly Springs Mayor Dick Spears (at top) and the other in memory of William Henry “Billy” Stephens (at bottom).
Our mission
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is to provide opportunities for our community to invest resources in the excellent work of UNC Rex Healthcare. The core activities through which the Foundation fulfills this mission include: advocacy, education, program development, fundraising, strategic partnerships and donor engagement.
A Message of Gratitude November 2021 Greetings! 2021 has been another challenging year for all of us. Just when we thought the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel was within our reach, the delta variant emerged. Ernie Bovio Despite the challenges, our One Great Team at UNC Rex Healthcare has continued to provide outstanding patient care while demonstrating why we are an award-winning hospital. With the opening of our new hospital in Holly Springs, we are excited to extend our reach and provide excellent care to patients in Southern Wake County. I am tremendously grateful for the support we received from donors and friends like you during the past year. Your generosity has enabled Rex to stay on course. Construction of the new hospital in Holly Springs, as well as the new Cancer Center, is made possible by your gifts. We have also been able to purchase an AngelEye camera system for our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, toys for the Pediatric Unit at the Main Hospital and to establish a partnership with the Holly Springs Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee for the new hospital’s sacred space. We’re proud that our peers continue to recognize our exceptional work. Once again, Rex has been ranked by Newsweek magazine among the “World’s Best Hospitals” – one of only 330 U.S. hospitals on the list. In other good news, the North Carolina Heart & Vascular Hospital has been named to Fortune and IBM Watson Health’s 2021 list of the nation’s Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals - one of several honors received for our treatment of heart and vascular patients. I am also excited about our partnership with Johnston Health, for which we have committed $125 million over the next five years to expand services and facilities in Johnston County. The collaboration will benefit our patients and hospitals, enable us to grow better together and add new services and facilities to help serve the fast-growing communities in Johnston and Wake counties. Without your generosity, which we do not take for granted, none of this would be possible. Please know we are committed to fiscal responsibility and intend to make use of your gifts in the most prudent way to continue our mission to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve. Because of your support, Rex will continue to grow and make a profound difference in the lives of our patients and the communities we serve. Thank you,
Ernie Bovio President
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Dr. A. Dawan Gunter and Team Prepare to Welcome New Babies in Southern Wake County
Dr. A. Dawan Gunter has delivered more than 1,500 babies in his career and doesn’t hesitate when asked what he enjoys most about obstetrics. “Getting to know expectant mothers through prenatal care and following them through delivery, even postpartum, and providing gynecological care after delivery,” said Gunter, medical director of REX OB/GYN at Holly Springs. “I have patients whose daughters I’ve delivered, and now their daughters come to me for gynecological care. That continuum of care is what I value most.” Gunter has worked at REX OB/GYN since it opened in January 2021. “Rex hired me to be the lead, and now we’ve gone to three physicians and two midwives and hope to hire another physician in December,” said Gunter, who will direct the new Birth Center at Rex Holly Springs Hospital. “Rex is known as a place for women’s care and obstetrics care, and now the same level of care is available in southern Wake County, with access to the Rex touch.” Big, open-air rooms with wide corridors, natural light and laboring tubs will grace the Birth Center, and patient rooms will have family spaces with fold-out sofas for fathers. However, there are opportunities for community members to support a few additional Birth Center needs that will help enhance patient experiences. Nikki Dixon, manager of Rex Holly Springs Hospital’s Women’s and Children’s Department, shared that donations help the Birth Center staff meet the unique needs of their patients and families, like books and educational materials, specialty equipment, and resources including Cuddle Cots to support those who experience infant loss. Roy Tempke, Jr., Vice President, Clinical Operations and Chief Operating Officer of Rex Holly Springs Hospital, is equally excited about the services that will be offered at the new Birth Center. “We’re going to have four doctors working in the practice, and we’ve doubled our prediction on how many births we’re expecting for the first year,” Tempke said. “There’s just explosive growth. It’s a brand new, beautiful hospital with every contemporary feature you can imagine, and … we’re bringing UNC Rex’s culture, safety and quality of care to southern Wake County.” Tempke said more than 40 percent of the clinical staff have experience from working at Rex. Having Gunter lead the Birth
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Center will be like icing on the cake, he added. “Dr. Gunter is a very humble, caring and thoughtful individual, and he’s respectful no matter who you are,” Tempke said. “He has just fit right into the organization and quickly become a key member of the practice and also of the Holly Springs Hospital community. “He understands the business aspect of it, is thoughtful in how he asks questions and is engaged,” Tempke continued. “He’s not just a doctor who sees patients. He understands the practice, cares about the people who work with him and cares about the hospital’s function and how it all connects together, which is really remarkable.” Jeff Tyndall, regional administrator for physicians’ services, said Gunter provides excellent care for his patients. “People as far away as Creedmoor and Wakefield come to see him, and that just speaks to who he is and what kind of physician he is for people to travel that far,” Tyndall said. “He’s probably the most approachable physician I’ve been around. He’s a funny guy with a good sense of
humor when he needs his humor, and he’s serious when he needs to be. He has a good balance of both.” Gunter is a native of Wagener, South Carolina, a small town with fewer than 1,000 residents, 30 minutes from Aiken. He attended Clemson University, earned his MBA from UNC and his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Not surprisingly, he’s a diehard Clemson football fan and Michigan State men’s basketball fan. He enjoys working outdoors and listening to R&B, country, gospel and classical music. He decided to become a physician at age 15, following an injury and a positive encounter with the doctor who treated him. “My parents were both working and it took a while for them to get to the hospital,” he said. “The emergency room physician who cared for me was sensitive to my being there alone. He was kind and explained things to me as they happened. He even took the time to tell me what he was looking for on X-ray and how my treatment would proceed.” Today, Gunter offers that same level of care to his patients.
“Dr. Gunter is an absolutely amazing physician with a great bedside manner,” said Tonya Faulkner, director of nursing and clinical operations with Rex Holly Springs Hospital. “His reputation is stellar, and I think that’s evident by how quickly his practice has grown and how he’s been able to recruit rockstar talent.” Gunter believes in a partnering approach to patient care. “I firmly believe that patients have the best outcomes when they are empowered in their medical care,” Gunter has said. “Safe treatments and alternatives should always be discussed, and questions answered plainly and frankly. I believe that there is never a bad question. I like to connect with my patients on a personal level. I see them as friends more than acquaintances.” Gunter has worked in all three health systems in the area. “I have to say … Rex is the best place in the Triangle that I’ve worked,” he said. “And the new Birth Center is a state-of-the-art facility that was built more to feel like home rather than a clinical space. It has all of the necessary technology and amenities to keep people safe and healthy.”
“He’s not just a doctor who sees patients. He understands the practice, cares about the people who work with him and cares about the hospital’s function and how it all connects together.” - Roy Tempke, Vice President, Clinical Operations and Chief Operating Officer
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A Picture D is Worth More Than a Thousand Words
ale and Debra Jenkins began dating when he was a senior and she was a sophomore at East Rutherford High School in Bostic, North Carolina. “I thought she was cute,” Dale Jenkins recalled. “She was a cheerleader, energetic, had a big smile on her face and a very bubbly, outgoing personality. I thought she’d be a good person to know.” They married in 1979, moved to Raleigh shortly thereafter and were together for just under 41 years until Debra passed away at UNC Rex Healthcare in 2020 from Multiple Systems Atrophy, a rare neurodegenerative disorder. After his wife passed away, Jenkins and his three adult children asked those who wanted to honor her memory to make donations to the Rex Healthcare Foundation. “At Rex, Debra received personalized care with a sense of compassion,” said Jenkins, a former chair of the Rex Board of Trustees. “We picked Rex because it’s been such a big part of our family.” Debra Jenkins
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Legacy of nurse who loved babies shines through new NICU camera system. The money that was donated to the Foundation in Debra Jenkins’ memory will purchase an AngelEye camera system for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU. When Foundation Vice President Sylvia Hackett and Director of Philanthropy Kay Taylor told Jenkins how the money would be spent, he and his children were all for it. Michelle Clements, clinical manager of the NICU and newborn nursery, heralded the AngelEye camera system as significant. “The AngelEye system provides a 24-7 view of the baby,” Clements said. “A parent could be at home, at work and still view his or her child. The most important thing for parents is being able to be with their baby 24-7, but that’s not always possible with the demands of home and life. “The AngelEye system is a tool that allows them to have … that connection to their baby,” Clements continued. “It helps the parents with emotional coping of their stressful NICU experience. In addition, the AngelEye system offers educational resources that parents can access remotely to help them understand the NICU journey.” With the AngelEye camera system, parents see their babies on screens that provide useful information, including condition updates and educational instructions to help them prepare for their baby’s discharge, Clements said. If doctors or nurses need to provide care for the baby that might make parents uneasy, a message saying “We’ll Be Right Back”
AngelEye Technology in NICU
appears on the screen. Parents are told that up front so if it happens, they don’t become unnecessarily alarmed. The AngelEye camera system is secure, and no one other than parents and those to whom they grant access can view their child. “The AngelEye camera system is a significant investment in the support of our patients and families in the NICU, and we’re incredibly grateful to the donors that understand the importance of this in helping parents get through one the most difficult times of their lives,” Clements said. “The other thing is that as moms are working on establishing their milk supply for breastfeeding, just the view of the baby helps the mom pump more milk,” Clements continued. “That’s one of the powerful benefits. We’re so excited to see the impact the AngelEye camera system will have on our families and believe this will make a profound difference.” Laura and Ward Nye were among those who made donations.
“Debra had amazing ‘wiring’ and naturally found great joy in doing good and in relating to every person,” Nye said of her close friend. “Perhaps you could say that was her philosophy, but it was much more than that. It was a gift, and it was contagious, making her positively impactful in so many ways. Debra thought children were the most precious of God’s creatures and would be happy about the AngelEye camera system.” Jenkins said more than100 people have made donations in his wife’s honor. “I wrote a lot of thank you notes,” he said. “The outpouring of support we received was just overwhelming, quite frankly. Debra was a people person, had tons of friends and had a way of making you feel so special when you were around her.” Jenkins and his children will attend the ceremony when the AngelEye camera system is unveiled. “Rex is a wonderful place and they do great work and great things for our community,” he said. “I’m grateful for the gifts that were made in Debra’s honor, and I’m thankful for the families who will benefit from it. “It’s just heart warming to know that people really care enough to be there when you need them and to provide the services you need,” Jenkins continued. “It’s just fantastic the services they were able to provide to make her comfortable. They provide exceptional care. We’re fortunate to have Rex in our community.”
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David Prince, Vice-Chair of the Holly Springs MLK Jr. Committee, and Roy Tempke, Vice President, Clinical Operations and Chief Operating Officer of Rex Holly Springs Hospital, converse near the welcoming entrance of the new Sacred Space.
Holly Springs MLK Jr. Committee Names Sacred Space
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The affinity that Furman Beckwith, Deborah Lockley Beckwith and David Prince have for Holly Springs runs deep. They were born and raised there and, after moving away to enjoy successful careers, returned to the area several years ago. The Beckwiths and Prince believe strongly in Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given much is required.” Furman Beckwith is president of the Holly Springs Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, Inc., his wife is chairwoman of the program committee, and Prince is vice president. “We’re a diverse committee that meets monthly,” Prince said. “We’ve planned several projects and have multiple programs running right now.” Furman Beckwith added, “Our purpose is to ease the economic strife in Holly Springs, to benefit the Black community and everyone else and to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by teaching peace and improving voting rights for Holly Springs citizens.”
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The Holly Springs MLK Committee hosts several annual events, including a Unity Weekend in January complete with a breakfast, an MLK walk, a keynote speaker and several other activities. The Committee provides scholarships to graduating seniors at Holly Springs High School, hosts an annual Day at the Park in Womble Park, and for six years has sponsored an annual golf tournament at Devil’s Ridge Country Club in Holly Springs. This year, the Holly Springs MLK Committee is embarking on arguably its biggest project to date: naming the sacred space at Rex Holly Springs Hospital. “When we grew up in Holly Springs in the 60s, there was no doctor, no drugstore, no grocery stores or anything like that in the Black community,” Furman Beckwith said. “Our Committee was approached about having the sacred space within the hospital named for the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, and … we wanted to do whatever we could to support the hospital.
“Because the town is losing so much of its Black population and identity, we wanted to do something to commemorate the Committee as well as have something that people could look at for years and years to come and say ‘the Holly Springs MLK Committee supported the hospital,’” Beckwith continued. “Dr. King was very religious, so we thought it’d be a great opportunity to have his name associated with a sacred space.” Prince and the Beckwiths are happy to lead the charge to support the Rex Holly Springs Hospital. “We’re just doing what we can for our community and giving back,” Prince said. “We’re very grateful to be a part of the MLK Committee and to make it a viable force in the town.” Furman Beckwith was a flight engineer in the United States Air Force before retiring and landing a job as a civil engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation. Deborah Beckwith retired from the Wake County School System as a teacher’s assistant in special education. Prince enjoyed a career in state government before embarking upon a second career in the funeral home business. His family has owned land in Holly Springs since 1888. All three are glad the Committee voted to name the sacred space at the new hospital, centrally located on the facility’s first floor, next to the welcoming desk . “I think the biggest thing is … there will be a plaque with our Committee’s name on it,” Deborah Beckwith said. “I know there’s a big emphasis on the sacred space being nondenominational. Besides making a contribution to the new hospital, we hope what we’re doing will inspire others to join us.”
“My initial reaction after learning about their donation was gratitude and humility.”
- Gyasi Ayinde Patterson, Director of Pastoral Care Services at UNC Rex
MLK Jr. Committee members Deborah and Furman Beckwith pose inside the new Sacred Space.
The Holly Springs MLK Committee has about 50 members. Gyasi Ayinde Patterson, director of pastoral care services at UNC Rex Healthcare, expressed that he’s grateful the Committee chose to engage with the hospital in this way. “My initial reaction after learning about their donation was gratitude and humility,” Patterson said. “I was very thankful for their donation and very thankful and honored that they considered us. “I’m delighted Rex sees the importance in inclusion, in reaching out to historically underrepresented communities,” he continued. “As we pursue diversity, equity and inclusion, finding ways to partner with these communities and allowing them to have a voice is a human issue, so I’m delighted we’re providing a space for this.” Prince is proud of the MLK Jr. Committee’s partnership with UNC Rex and hopeful about its potential impact. “In the years to come, we’ll go to the sacred space and see what we did,” he said. “We may even get the opportunity to sit in the sacred space and pray for our loved ones who may be patients at the hospital. I’m looking forward to utilizing it.” Patterson said anybody can use the sacred space. “We’re ecumenical, egalitarian and support many stripes of humanity and belief systems which speaks to holistic care — mind, body and soul,” he said. “It’s a very calming space, and my hope is that visitors use it when they first come in, while they’re at the hospital and before they leave. I also hope staff will use it because it’s for everybody.”
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Extra Kindness During COVID-19 Throughout the pandemic, donors have shown their support of UNC Rex Healthcare by funding COVID-related gifts. In addition to general patient support, the following projects have been supported through these COVID-relief efforts: · Ultrasound Machine in Emergency Department – Providing additional equipment to address an increased patient volume · Special Respiratory Unit Courtyard Renovation – Providing space for co-worker respite · Grin Pin Project – Wearable pins showing co-workers’ maskless faces for connecting to patients · Sitter Uniforms – Outfitting many newly trained sitters in patient rooms when visitation was restricted · Heated Tent in Main Courtyard – Creating additional space for safely-distanced eating · CRRT Dialysis Machine for ICU – Providing continuous renal replacement therapy equipment for increased patient load · Clinical Leader Educational Retreat – Offering a special day of COVID-related education to combat burnout and assist teams with coping
COVID-related funding received...............................................................
Total amount raised for fiscal year 2021..........................
$2,028,347
Total fiscal year 2021 disbursements to support UNC Rex Healthcare........................................................
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$54,707
$807,123
2021 Impact Report Cancer Center Construction
44% 17%
44.7% Repeat Donors
Mammography Services
15%
Cancer Center Angel Fund
1,885 Donors 10% 55.3% New Donors
8% 6%
Other
Nursing Professional Development / Scholarships
Patient Assistance
115 Grateful Patient Donors 319 Co-worker Donors 256 Tribute Gifts (honor/memorial) 97 Rex Society Donors 11
arge Madness
for 3D Mammograms
Breast Cancer Survivor Pays it Forward by Raising Money For Mobile Mammography Marge Morena was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2015. Exactly one week later, her mother passed away. Either circumstance could have broken her. Neither did. Morena laid her mother to rest, and with the loving support of her husband, Rich Lewis, began fighting.
Marge Morena and her husband, Rich Lewis
“I had a relatively easy journey through breast cancer,” said Morena of Cary. “No chemotherapy. No radiation. I prayed with a lot of people and one person said to me, “Marge, God saved your life for a reason.’ I thought about it, prayed on it and decided to get involved with breast cancer awareness. I found out about the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and my husband and I came up with the team name Marge Madness for 3D Mammograms because the 3D Mammogram saved my life.” A year after her diagnosis, Morena started participating in Susan G. Komen races and hosting a luncheon at Prestonwood Country Club to raise money for the nation’s largest breast cancer research organization that, according to its website, has invested nearly $1.1 billion in cancer research since 1982. In five years, she’s raised over $16,000 for Komen’s Triangle affiliate, but this year she’s redirecting her efforts.
Scenes from the Marge Madness Luncheon event at Prestonwood Country Club.
“Now I’m focusing my fundraising to support the UNC Rex Mobile Mammography Unit,” Morena said. “During the first week in August, Marge Madness sponsored our very first free mammogram event with the mobile unit at Prestonwood County Club and 16 ladies from my church, St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Cary, were provided with free screenings.” To her credit, Morena wants only to help save lives. “I just want to help women live long, healthy lives,” she said. “Whatever I can do through my fundraising to help these ladies is enough for me. I have friends who’ve heard of their friends being diagnosed with breast cancer and they’ll ask me if I’d be willing to speak to them.
Scenes from the Marge Madness Luncheon event at Prestonwood Country Club.
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“I try to encourage them and give them hope and lend whatever support I can,” she continued. “I want to work hard with UNC Rex Mobile Mammography Unit to help take the words breast cancer out of our vocabulary so women and men in my family and in
everyone’s families won’t have to endure hearing the difficult words, ‘you have breast cancer,’ ever again.” Morena hopes the money she raises will help underserved women in North Carolina, specifically in the Triangle, because she said Black and Hispanic women don’t always have the same access to mammograms as others. According to data tracked by UNC Rex, 81 percent of the women served by the Mobile Mammography Unit between April 2019 and September 2020 were Black and/or Hispanic/Latina. According to the Susan G. Komen website, breast cancer mortality is about 40 percent higher for African American women in the U.S. than Caucasian women. “And, African American women are often diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer when treatment options are limited, costly and the prognosis is poor,” the site states. Morena wants women of all races to benefit from her efforts and is collaborating on the next luncheon with Ava Jeffs, a senior at Green Hope High School in Cary and The North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham, where she has analyzed public health data about disparities in breast cancer mortality rates.
“I was really inspired by Marge’s story and just connected with her,” said Jeffs of Cary. “We worked together through her organization, Marge Madness, and my organization, the Pink Ribbon Club, before co-founding Generations United for Awareness, Hope and a Cure. This year I was in charge of the virtual raffle and the tech logistics. I’ve learned a lot from Marge about the business side of running a nonprofit…we complement each other.” Jeffs is glad the money raised at the luncheon will support the Mobile Mammography Unit. Morena’s husband, who accompanied her on each of her doctor’s appointments after her diagnosis, shares Jeffs’ enthusiasm about the money being redirected to Rex.
“After Marge’s diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer, it became obvious to both of us that her early detection was attributed to having a 3D Mammogram that eventually saved her life,” Lewis said. “She felt she needed to work on making other women aware of this life-saving tool, as well as provide support to anyone who needed it. “For the past five years, Marge has dedicated her life to getting the word out about 3D mammograms and fundraising for breast cancer research,” he continued. “Her passion about 3D mammograms has truly become her new career … and I’m so grateful she made it through her journey successfully, and we’re here together to help other people.”
“I want to work hard with UNC Rex Mobile Mammography Unit to help take the words breast cancer out of our vocabulary.” - Marge Morena Marge Madness team poses during free mammogram event at Prestonwood Country Club.
The women met at Green Hope when Morena spoke to the Pink Ribbon Club, which Jeffs founded her freshman year. Jeffs has long been interested in breast cancer. Her maternal grandmother died from the disease, and for the past three years she’s worked as a lab intern at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. In summer 2022, she’ll intern at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer, where she’ll use genome editing technology to pinpoint oncogenes involved in cancer progression.
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A Multi-generational Legacy of Philanthropy K
evin Anderson was born at UNC Rex Healthcare in 1964. His younger brother, Chris, was born there two years later. It’s not uncommon for siblings to be born at the same hospital, but when it comes to the Anderson family of Raleigh, their ties to UNC Rex run much deeper. Kevin’s paternal grandfather, Glenn Anderson, joined the hospital’s Board of Trustees when Rex was on St. Mary’s Street. As treasurer of the Board, he helped to lead the capital campaign for the current facility on Lake Boone Trail. His paternal grandmother, Grace, was a dedicated volunteer on The Rex Guild. Annually, the hospital awards a $2,000 scholarship bearing her name to an outstanding high school senior who volunteers there. Chip Anderson, Kevin’s dad, was born at Rex in 1937, the year the hospital relocated to the corner of St. Mary’s and Wade Avenue. His mom, Judy Anderson, is a past Guild president who volunteered at Rex for decades. Kevin’s own children, Tyler and Garrett, became the third generation of
further cement UNC Rex Healthcare’s preeminent position in cancer care and draw patients from Johnston and surrounding counties. “Things are going well with construction and with fundraising,” Kevin said. “Like all things, it’s a been a challenge during COVID. But with so many people affected by cancer, it’s a project that many people have felt compelled to support.”
Glenn Anderson
Andersons born at the hospital in 1993 and 1996, respectively. His wife, Perri, joined her mother-in-law as a volunteer on the Guild and also provides hearing screenings for newborns. Kevin is a Board of Trustees member, a former member of the Rex Healthcare Foundation Leadership Board, and currently spearheads the capital campaign for the new Cancer Center. The new facility is scheduled to open in early 2022. It will
The new Cancer Center is more than just bricks and mortar to Kevin, who was diagnosed with stage one throat cancer in 2009. “I was very fortunate that it was caught early and also that it’s one of the more treatable types of cancer,” he said. “But it’s a process. I still had 35 rounds of radiation, going five days a week for seven weeks. Just as Rex has been the birthplace of many Anderson family members, it has also been there during the not-so-happy moments of our lives. My personal cancer diagnosis occurred at Rex, and my mother is currently being treated there for breast cancer.” Judy Anderson spent many years on the Guild Board and was elected president in 2010. The organization has donated equipment to the hospital, established a nursery for the children of doctors and nurses and implemented hearing testing for newborns before such tests were statemandated.
A rendering of the new Cancer Center, slated to open in 2022.
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“I’ve seen Rex from the inside out, and now I’m benefitting from the excellent care of the Cancer Center as a patient,”
out working in the gift shop,” she said. “Kevin’s mom and grandmother had been so involved in The Guild. Rex is always our go-to. My sister had ovarian cancer two years ago, and UNC and Rex took care of her and she’s doing well. “The quality of patient care at Rex is as good as it gets,” Perri continued. “Where the nurses want to work is where you want to go because that says a lot about the staff, admissions, and administration. Rex has the best of the best.” Chip, Judy, Kevin and Perri Anderson
Judy said. “I’m no longer the one greeting and smiling at people as they enter the hospital but am benefitting from what I’ve supported all of these years.” Chip and Judy are proud of their family’s decades-long relationship with UNC Rex — particularly their son’s involvement with the capital campaign. “Somewhere along in my teens or early adult life, my father became a member of the board and led a lot of the financing arrangements that enabled the hospital to move to its present campus,” Chip said. “That was really the beginning. And then my mother decided to be involved and volunteered for 22 years, primarily in patient admissions.” Added Judy: “Supporting Rex is just plain easy because Rex is a really caring hospital. They’re advanced in their equipment and their philosophy and they’re advanced in their outlook for medicine. I’d like for people in our community to appreciate that and realize you don’t get that type of quality care without support.” Perri Anderson, a nurse, agrees with her mother-in-law, enjoys supporting UNC Rex and is proud of her husband’s efforts. “My real involvement with Rex started in 2008 when I joined The Guild and started
2021 UNC Rex Healthcare Board of Trustees Catharine B. Arrowood Parker Poe Kevin T. Anderson Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Teresa C. Artis ComCounsel Ernie L. Bovio, Jr. President, UNC Rex Healthcare
Perri considers it apropos for her husband to raise money for the Cancer Center, adding, “it’s nice seeing him following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps.”
A. Wesley Burks, M.D. Chief Executive Officer, UNC Health
Kay Taylor, director of strategic philanthropy, is appreciative of Kevin’s service and that of his family. “The Anderson family represents the best in community and philanthropic leadership,” Taylor said. “Their multigenerational legacy has positively impacted UNC Rex in so many ways, and it is an honor to be working with Kevin Anderson to raise funds for the new Cancer Center. Kevin and his family have demonstrated great generosity and are absolutely committed to the best for those in need of cancer care.”
Stephen W. Burriss Chief Operating Officer, UNC Health Ann S. Collins, M.D. Woman’s Health Alliance, PA DBA Centre Ob/Gyn Courtney A. Crowder APCO Worldwide Melissa A. Fitzpatrick Kirby Bates Associates Kevin D. Howell North Carolina State University
To his credit, Kevin would rather discuss Rex and his family than himself. “We have a family legacy of service to Rex, and spearheading the campaign was an opportunity to give back to the hospital and the community in a way that was very meaningful to me,” he said. “I couldn’t say no to being involved and having the opportunity to contribute in a way that could lead to a better experience for future patients, and I take pride in leading the effort to encourage philanthropy to move the Cancer Center from good to great.”
David F. Mills Narron-Wenzel, PA Robert B. Oakes (Brad), CPA Dunn, Dunn, & Oakes, CPAs, PLLC Bobby T. Parker Community Volunteer Rig S. Patel, M.D. Digestive Healthcare
Jason T. Sandler, CPA Curi, Inc.
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Mito Pereira, 2021 Rex Hospital Open Champion
2021 Rex Hospital Open Raises $400,000 Supporting the Cancer Center Angel Fund and Patient Assistance Fund The long-awaited return of the Rex Hospital Open was a huge success. Fans were eager to see the rising stars of professional golf following the cancellation of the 2020 tournament due to the pandemic. Admission capacities were limited to provide a safe viewing environment, and those lucky enough to grab a ticket were treated to a memorable event. Mito Pereira won the tournament in dramatic fashion with a birdie on the first playoff hole against Stephan Jaeger. His total of -21 tied the tournament scoring record set in 2019 by Sebastian Cappelen. The victory was his second of the season, but Mito wasn’t finished. He went on to win the BMW Charity Pro-Am in Greenville, S.C., the following week earning the rare three-win promotion direct to the PGA TOUR. The future looks bright for our champion. Since being promoted to the PGA TOUR, Mito has three top 10 finishes including a 3rd in the opening event of the 2021-22 season. He also competed in the Tokyo Olympics and was part of a playoff for the Bronze Medal. Thank you to all of our sponsors, supporters and over 400 volunteers who make this event one of the best on TOUR. Net charity proceeds over the 34-year history of the event are approaching $10 million. What a tremendous accomplishment and testament to the direct, positive impact the tournament has on people right here in our community. This year’s proceeds have already gone to work helping patients at UNC Rex through the Cancer Center Angel Fund and Patient Assistance Fund.
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Families enjoying the fun!
Meet Mulbe Dillard IV
Getty Images
In partnership with the Korn Ferry Tour, UNC Rex Healthcare awarded one of their title sponsor exemptions for the 2021 REX Hospital Open to Florida A&M University’s Mulbe Dillard IV, who finished the season as the number one golfer in the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Collegiate Ranking. “I’m just happy that hard work is going to be put to good use,” said Dillard, “and that I’m going to be able to show that a kid from the south side of Chicago, who went to an HBCU, is going to be out there competing with some of the best golfers in the world.”
First announced in February 2021, this is the first of two years UNC Rex Healthcare has committed to awarding one of their title sponsor exemptions to the top-ranked player in the APGA Collegiate Ranking, as it will do the same for the 2022 REX Hospital Open. Mulbe Dillard IV
“We were excited to provide an opportunity for Mulbe Dillard to compete in the REX Hospital Open,” said Ernie Bovio, president of UNC Rex Healthcare. “This partnership with the APGA is a great fit with our mission of equity and inclusion. It’s also thrilling to see some of the world’s top young golfers come to Raleigh to play in our backyard.” The APGA was established in 2008 as a non-profit organization with the mission to bring greater diversity to the game of golf. The APGA Tour Board of Directors works to accomplish this by hosting and operating professional golf tournaments, player development programs, mentoring programs and by introducing the game to inner-city young people. The APGA Collegiate Ranking eases the financial costs associated with playing developmental tours, as well as application fees for the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament. Eligible players for the APGA Collegiate Ranking are Black NCAA Division I, II or III golfers who exhaust a minimum of four collegiate years.
Our Team Rex Healthcare Foundation Sylvia Hackett Vice President Kevin Bender Rex Hospital Open Sales Representative Sammie Best Sr. Executive Assistant and Administrative Associate to Sylvia Hackett Amy Daniels Foundation Director Dariel Dixon Database Analyst Angela Harris Program / Grants Officer Brian Krusoe Rex Hospital Open Tournament Director Jackie Leach Pierce Sr. Philanthropy Officer Kay Taylor Director of Strategic Philanthropy
The Rex Hospital Open will return to Wakefield June 2-5, 2022.
We hope to see you there!
2500 Blue Ridge Rd., Suite 325 Raleigh, NC 27607 rex.foundation@unchealth.unc.edu (919) 784-4424 RexHealthcareFoundation.com 17
Honoring our Teammates: 2020-21 Acorn Award Recipients UNC Rex Healthcare receives significant support through the Grateful Patient and Families Program. The program provides a way for patients and families to express their appreciation for the care they received by making a gift to the Rex Healthcare Foundation. An exciting feature about the program is that donors can choose to honor caregivers – nurses, doctors, technicians – as well as individuals who do not provide direct patient care, such as members of housekeeping, food services and volunteers. These tribute gifts are especially meaningful in that honored staff members receive special recognition in front of their peers, and a pewter lapel pin, shaped like an acorn, to signify this special honor. The acorn is a symbol that no matter how small the act of kindness, it makes a difference to others.
The following individuals and departments received acorn pins in FY21 for their outstanding customer service and quality patient care: Catherine M. Anna Marlene Bonilla Barrera Catherine J. Baugus Lina Beasley (2) Chris Beaver Kelly R. Bechtel Angeline Bennett Kathleen R. Bernath Jeremiah C. Boles, MD Clare W. Bremer Cameron Brown Terry Brown Paris L. Bryant Courtney L. Bui Joseph Bumgarner, MD John Grant Buttram, MD Delphine Cameron (3) Hollyn Campbell Stephanie A. Cason Genise Chenault Amber C. Chesney Jessica M. Collins Randolph A. Cooper, MD Andrea Crosby Leonisa Davis (2) Caitin C. De Lay Amy De Stefano, MD Endashash Debella Lynn Nicolaisen Degnan Joel B. Dragelin, MD Vanessa Drake Rifaa K. Easmail
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Bloom J. English (2) Anna Faber Miranda L. Fitzgerald Danielle Foster Tara Freeman Tracy F. Fuquay Benita L. Gardner Teresa Gong Letisha C. Granger Vijayatha C. Gundarapu, MD Jewook Ha Rhema Hackett Susan C. Hamilton (2) Kelsey W. Hanlon Michele W. Harmon Shelley Hicks Laurie Hogan Susan Holleman (2) Clarence P. Huggins Brenda D. James Cathie Jarvis Robert L. Jobe, MD Logan Jones Paula Y. Jones Ranjit Joseph, MD Joanne Klosterman (2) Lance E. Landvater, MD Mariann Lannon Eram Latif Jung Aa Lee Jeannine T. Lewis (2) Samantha M. Lewis
Alayna Lien Susan Litzsinger Kyndal Lucas Selime Massola Danisha McNeill Brendan D. McNulty, MD John Merritt (2) Vicki L. Minikus (2) Leon Monroe Kristin L. Moore John Nardiello, MD Leslie Navaroli Tara Oxendine Lisa V. Parnell Denise Pescaro Malu L. Pobele (2) Sandra D. Rearden Ashley Reher Nancy Rivella Emi Robert Roberta E. Rose Kevin Ryan Riza Cheryll Samson Lamin Sanneh Jessica Selvaggio Jason F. Simpson Avery W. Smith Robert H. Smithson, MD Alyssa J. Stiehle Patricia A. Taylor Candice O. Terrell Robin E. Vaccaro
Robert S. Wehbie, MD Kerry N. Whitt, MD Leslie Williams Kelly P. Wooten Latisha Wright Linda Youngwirth, MD Miranda A. Zambelli
In Honor of 3 East Nurses In Honor of Anna - Cath Lab In Honor of CSICU Nurses Kim, Mary, Rieann, Monica, Pearl, Kaitlyn In Honor of Jason, Angela, and Shenequa 6 East and 7th Floor In Honor of Leon Malone and Sue in 7 West In Honor of MuKeba, Renee, and Ruth in 8HV In Honor of Natalie B.- PT- 6 West In Honor of Robin, Sandra, Kelly, Sue, and Shelley in 7 West In Honor of Steve in the Emergency Department In Honor of the Cancer Center In Honor of UNC Rex Chaplains
UNC Rex Healthcare - 3 West UNC Rex Healthcare - 4 East UNC Rex Healthcare - 4 West UNC Rex Healthcare - 6 West
Turning Pain Into Smiles
Meg’s Smile Foundation Names Rex Holly Springs Hospital Play Space
Meg Wasley
Photo: Jaime Lackey
York City. They were escorted by the 9/11 Museum director and given a guided tour.”
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im and Terri Wasley suffered what for them was the unthinkable in early 2011 when their 8-year-old daughter, Meg, passed away from a brain tumor. “Meg really made it easy on us by never asking why this was happening to her,” Jim Wasley said. “It was really kind of late in her battle when her doctor told us that she knew what was happening to her. She said she knew we loved her, and she just didn’t want to see us more upset than we already were. That’s the kind of kid she was.” To honor Meg, the Wasleys started Meg’s Smile Foundation, which provides “smiles” for children diagnosed with serious illnesses. The smiles requests vary. For example, there was Russell, who’d been battling cancer for almost eight years and discovered at age 18 that he wasn’t going to survive. Russell was very interested in the events of September 11 and had never visited New York. “We got a call at 3 p.m. on a Friday saying if he doesn’t go to New York next week, he can’t go because that’s how bad his condition was,” Wasley said. “I sent something to our Board members and we started working by phone. By Tuesday, we sent him and five family members to New
The Foundation’s first smile involved a boy named Franklin, big trucks and his own battery-operated Humvee. Another request led to a young man receiving a diamond ring just in time to propose to his girlfriend. Yet another involved sprucing up a young woman’s car, complete with a purple paint job, body work and a stereo system. The Foundation provides smiles for children and young adults up to age 26, provided they were diagnosed with their serious illness before their 19th birthday. This year, Meg’s Smile Foundation is naming the play space in Rex Holly Springs Hospital, as well as providing toys in the Pediatric unit at UNC Rex Healthcare. “When we heard they were building a new hospital here in Holly Springs, it was just a no-brainer for us,” Wasley said. “Not only when we were battling with Meg, but when we started the Meg’s Smile Foundation, the community support has never waned. My wife and I have lived in Holly Springs since 2002, and a hospital has been talked about for a while. To see that it’s really here is incredible, and we think it’s a fabulous opportunity to give back to the community.” Meg’s Smile Board member and Holly Springs businessman Sean Mayefskie agrees. “I’m a big believer in giving back to the community,” Mayefskie said. “When we heard the new hospital was opening, we wanted to make sure Meg’s Smile was part
of it. The community has been a big part of this Foundation since the beginning … and we wanted to be part of this new endeavor Rex is bringing to Holly Springs.” Mayefskie has served on the Board for six years. And Board member Mary Fuoto joined two years ago. “The donation for the permanent room in the new hospital, for me, solidifies the community response and our ability to say to anyone who’s going through a hospital stay that here’s a quiet place,” said Fuoto. “It’s a way for us to continue in a permanent way to tell Meg’s story. “This is the first time we’ve done something on this level,” Fuoto continued. “Our mission statement is to bring a smile to an individual child, but sometimes we’ll contribute wind chimes to a garden or parking passes to clinics. This room will be a permanent legacy for Meg and all of the good things that her passing has brought to other children.” Fuoto, Mayefskie and Wasley hope the play space and toys bring joy to children’s lives — just as the Foundation has done some 380 times and counting. The Wasleys also have a son, Jake, 21, and a daughter, Izzy, 10. To them, supporting UNC Rex this way makes perfect sense. “It was important to us because of Meg’s age and also because of the mission of Meg’s Smile Foundation to help children and young people,” Wasley said. “Our aim is to help as many children in the state of North Carolina as we can.”
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Non-Profit Org. US Postage
PAID 4420 Lake Boone Trail Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
Raleigh, NC 27607 Permit No. 1234
Gifts to UNC Rex Healthcare are made through the Rex Healthcare Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3). The Rex Healthcare Foundation can be reached at (919) 784-4424 or rex.foundation@unchealth.unc.edu.
The sun rises again as a new era of serving patients and families in Southern Wake County begins.
