Piedmont Augusta announced Dec. 10 donations of $2 million in community impact funds to 44 community not-for-profit organizations to support the services they provide to residents of Augusta and surrounding communities.
In the affiliation agreement between Piedmont and the former University Health Care System, Piedmont agreed to provide $2 million a year for 10 years to community nonprofit groups who are in a position to make a measurable impact on health needs as stated in the Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy for Piedmont’s Augusta Hub, according to Gene McManus, chairman of the Piedmont Augusta Board, in a news release.
This the second year of the agreement. Organizations announced Wednesday will receive funds in 2026.
“An important component in the decision by University Health Care System to join the Piedmont team was our shared commitment to investing in prevention, population health and access to care,” McManus said, at an awards presentation at the HUB for Community Innovation Augusta. “Since joining Piedmont, our thinking has evolved and broadened to include a focus on our role in addressing medical, emotional and dental health, along with social drivers of health, such as homelessness, education, unemployment and food insecurity. We have also become keenly aware of the health disparities throughout our community, and how we can help ensure people have equal access to high-quality care by partnering with organizations uniquely qualified to impact those needs in a measurable way.”
Last year, Piedmont Augusta Board leadership, hospital executives and Community Relations team members developed an annual application process for distributing support, considering the community’s high number of not-for-profit groups that could qualify. This year, a committee was formed of board members who spent hours visiting the organizations and learning more about their efforts before ultimately reviewing the applications and making their decisions.
“As we move throughout the community, we witness and hear stories about the hard work being done, and the lives that are changed and impacted for the better,” McManus said. “Piedmont is proud to support you, our partners, in keeping the community well.”
McManus said the organizations chosen are based in Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie and Aiken counties, and have a broad reach across Piedmont Augusta’s service area. Also, each has a proven track record of making a measurable impact on the health needs, social drivers of health or health disparities facing our community as directed by Piedmont Augusta’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy.
Dr. Lily Henson CEO of Piedmont’s Augusta Hub, said supporting community partners falls in line with the Piedmont Promise to make a positive difference in every life they touch.
“While we are known for our exceptional clinical outcomes, the impact Piedmont makes in our communities is core to who we are and what we do,” Henson said. “Recognizing we are stronger when we pool our energy and resources, we are thrilled to begin the celebratory season of giving thanks by honoring, supporting and strengthening our partner organizations who are in the trenches helping all members of our community achieve their potential. There remains a tremendous need, and there is much more work to be done. We are committed to supporting our community partners in those efforts.”
Organizations receiving funding include 143 Ministries, Aiken Senior Life Services, American Heart Association, Apparo Academy, Augusta Dream Center. Augusta Locally Grown, Augusta Training Shop, Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity, Beulah Grove/Lamar Medical Center, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Augusta, Bridge Builder Communities, Cancer Support Services. Challenge Preparatory Academy, Child Enrichment, Christ Community Health Services, Compass for Hope, Druid Park Health Center/Miracle Making Ministries, Family Promise of Augusta, GAP Ministries, Good Neighbors Ministries, Harrisburg Family Health Care, Helping Hands, Inc. Hope House, I Am My Brother’s Keeper, It’s About Family, LAUNCH Augusta, Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, Manhood Tour, Manna, Mental Health America of Greater Augusta, Neighborhood Improvement Project, New Bethlehem Community Center, North Augusta Sertoma, Project Refresh, Restart Augusta, RISE Augusta, Ronald McDonald House Charities Augusta, Safe Homes Domestic Violence Center, Sexual Assault Response Center (Forensic Health Services), Sons of Consolation Ministries, St. Vincent DePaul Society, The Hale Foundation, Tuttle-Newton Home and Via Cognitive Health.
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