(Featured photo: Dr. Alice David speaks at the dedication of the Alice and John David Lab and Lecture Hall at Helms College Oct. 24)
Drs. Alice and John David prefer to give quietly and anonymously, but they made a recent major gift known in hopes of inspiring others to follow their lead.
On Oct. 24, Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA dedicated the Alice and John David Lab and Lecture Hall at the Helms College School of Health Services.
“What John and I are able to do for Goodwill is just a drop in the ocean considering the goal and vision of Goodwill,” said Dr. Alice David, an oncologist with AO Multispecialty Clinic., who supports Goodwill’s mission of giving others a helping hand.
The Davids have been longtime supporters of the organization. Dr. John David has served on its board of directors.
He said he’s seen how the organization has taken people and given them a second chance at life. People who’ve been incarcerated or had a substance abuse problem have been able to start over and embark on a career path thanks to the work of Goodwill. Others simply need that hand up to help them develop their God-given gifts and find independence.
“I believe we are called to serve one another,” said Alice David.
Over the past several years, Goodwill has created a successful culinary program designed to give classroom and practical experience to prepare students for careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Edgar’s Grille and Edgar’s Bakehouse have served as an extension of the classroom to provide real world experience.
Read More: Augusta Goodwill draws from its past to shape its future
Helms College is taking that same approach with a health sciences curriculum, offering a multi-skilled medical assistant program and a hemodialysis technician program.
Dr. John David said those programs were added after much research and asking those in the area’s medical community to identify their needs.
Goodwill’s goal is to have a clinic at the Washington Road site to provide hands-on training, following the model started with the other Helms College programs.
Funds are being raised to renovate the space. After Tuesday’s dedication, James Stiff, Goodwill president, provided tours of the former Weinberger’s Furniture store that will house the clinic.
Helms College is currently running a “hand up campaign” to raise funds to “enhance and expand the Helms College continuum of education career services and applied learning business enterprises,” according to literature on the campaign.
The campaign aims to raise $6.5 million for the Augusta campus; more than $4.5 million has already been raised.
The couple’s gift has already prompted one of Dr. Alice David’s colleagues at AO Multispecialty Clinic to contribute. The Miriam Yvette Jones Atkins, MD classroom also known as SOHS 111 is next to the lab and lecture hall.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
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