CORKS & CANVASSES

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

The unique hospital foundation event was held lakeside and indoors at the home of Matthew Meehan and Rod Hildebrant

Lake Martin seasonal homeowner Matthew Meehan worried about the quality of health care when spending time at his Lake Martin home in rural Alabama, so he was pleasantly surprised two summers ago to find excellent emergency care at Russell Medical.

“In more rural areas, you hear horror stories about the lack of access to good medical care,” said the Miami resident who, along with his husband Rod Hildebrant, last month hosted a unique wine and art fundraiser at the lake. “I had to have an emergency appendectomy. I had gone septic. This was definitely an urgent situation, and I was floored at the level of care, the quality of care and the equipment available at Russell Medical, as well as the talent pool of doctors. It was equal to or even better than what I had access to in Miami.”

He was impressed not only with the professional care he received but also with the constant effort to keep him updated.

“They were constantly easing my mind,” he said.

Though that visit alone left a favorable impression, a year later, Meehan was back in the emergency room.

“I cut my thumb off. I was prepping food for guests to arrive,” he explained. “Again, I showed up at Russell Medical. I was taken back immediately, and as if it was nothing, they reattached the top of my thumb, and I was on my way in about an hour and a half.

“When I say I have ease of mind knowing that people have access to world class care here, I mean I would trust Russell Medical with my life. I am in

Lgood hands when I go there.” And he reciprocated when given the opportunity. Meehan owns Shine Water, a fortified water company, and during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russell Medical Foundation Executive Director Tammy Jackson asked if his company would donate water for the staff at the hospital. He was happy to oblige and told her to contact him again if there was anything else he might do to help the hospital. Jackson took Meehan at his word and several months ago reached out to see if Meehan and Hildebrant would host the foundation’s upcoming Corks and Canvasses event in their 25,000-square-foot home at The Ridge. After attending a business gathering at Lake Martin, the couple found the lake was centrally located to a number of hospices they owned across Alabama and eastern Georgia at the time, so they purchased a cabin on the lake’s east side. When they sold the hospice business, they also sold the cabin. “We no longer needed to be on the lake, and we sold it. Then we realized we loved the lake and didn’t want to leave. All of our friends and family had been coming to stay with us at the cabin. We have eight grandchildren. So we decided to build something more permanent,” Meehan said. At the time, they also owned a restored 18th century chateau in France, but ferrying the grandchildren across the ocean for visits was complicated. The decision was made to sell the chateau and build a home at

Auburn head basketball coach Bruce Pearl was a special guest

Mrs. P's provided an elaborate charcuterie board

Lake Martin that could accommodate large parties of guests, as well as the grandchildren and their friends.

“The third floor is all grandchildren space. We can sleep 16 up there, plus there are sofas. The entire home sleeps 60, and all but two wings were open for the event for Russell Medical,” Meehan said.

The event included a home tour with docents in each room to explain to guests the stories behind the furnishings and accessories the couple had collected during their extensive travels. The second floor sitting room, billiard room and guest rooms also hosted an exhibit of donated works from Lake Martin artists.

“The art was arranged so that people could roam and explore the house to find where it was displayed,” Meehan said.

Daniel Jackson provided music for the event on the New Orleans styled balcony overlooking the lake. The sprawling lakeside patio below hosted red wine stations and speeches from the homeowners, as well as special guest, Auburn University head basketball coach Bruce Pearl. And on the entry-level living space, white wine stations and catered food stations encouraged the guests to browse the surroundings.

Several local wine collectors donated bottles for an auction that raised $14,000 alone. Art sales also brought in more than $14,000.

“A percentage of the wine orders taken during the event also will benefit Russell Medical Foundation,” Jackson said. “The art sold very quickly. Matthew and Rod were so easy to work with, so accommodating, and 40 percent of the audience was new to the area, which gave them a relaxed atmosphere in which to get to know the medical staff in attendance. Tickets were very much in demand, and we were so blessed that we were given the opportunity to hold the event there.”

Tickets for the limited attendance event were $150 each, and to maintain the ambiance, guests parked at The Ridge Club. They rode shuttle busses from Alexander City Arise to the home while a docent on the bus provided an overview of the home and the

event during the drive. Docents also greeted each guest with a glass of champagne upon arrival.

The event raised $250,000 to purchase an updated PET scan system for The Cancer Center – Russell Medical.

“When Tammy called us about hosting the event, it was easy for my husband and I to say yes because I discovered firsthand how incredible the quality of care is at Russell Medical. It was a no-brainer to raise money, especially for new equipment,” Meehan said.

Sherry Henderson chaired the planning committee, which included Courtney Baker, Joanna Vines and Kelly Adams. Debbie Butler, Judy Ireland, Tina Bodine and Lisa Peace coordinated the wine auction, and art sales were coordinated by Tamie Story, Jamie Dark and Sarah Clegg. Mark Gilliland at Grain and Leaf supplied pourers for the wine stations, and sommeliers Sam Fonte and Josh Nagel with Alabama Crown Distributing Co. helped attendees with their wine selections. Noah Griggs of Wharf Casual Seafood and Amy Potter of Mrs. P’s Charcuterie catered the event, while Jackson and Emily Williams provided support from the Russell Medical Foundation office.

Contact Tammy Jackson at 256-215-7459 to make a donation to the foundation.

The event included four wine stations and an auction of bottles donated by private collectors

The homeowners welcomed guests on the lakeside patio