CityView Magazine

44 November 2022 for the pediatric unit. For every "Coloring Pillows for a Cause" purchase, Abbott donates an additional pillow and a pack of fabric markers to the hospital. To order a pillow, visit ahadesignsnc.com. "It's a great gi, and it supports the children at the hospital as well," Brooks says. Giving blood Donating blood is another way to give to the community, that costs nothing but time. Donations given to Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center stay within the health system and help ensure that the patients hospitalized at Cape Fear Valley Health have a safe and adequate supply of blood. at's not always an easy feat. "We transfuse about 1,100 units of blood per month to patients throughout the health system," says Lindsey Graham, Blood Donor Center marketing coordinator. "But we collect way less than that. Sometimes we have to purchase blood from outside sources. is can be costly, and the blood isn't always readily available. ere is just no substitute for local donors who give regularly." e Blood Donor Center, located at 3357 Village Drive in Bordeaux Shopping Center, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the third Saturday of each month. ey also conduct blood drives at locations such as schools, shopping centers and businesses. Call 910-615-5433 or go to capefearvalley.com/blood/blood_ drives.aspx to find upcoming blood drives. Monetary donations For those who are able, monetary donations are always gratefully accepted by Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation, the philanthropic If members of a community group feel passionately about a particular service area, the foundation staff can help them discover a meaningful way to connect with a service project. Two years ago, Alex Abbott Spearman of AHA Designs started donating coloring pillows with monograms and designs for the pediatric unit. arm of the healthcare system that works to secure funding for some of the most critical departments, including cancer, heart and children's care services. "e foundation's focus for the past five years has been our capital campaign – the $30 million Center for Medical Education and Neuroscience Institute – which will help train the next generation of physicians,'' Brooks says. "We have raised capital funding to make the building a reality." e building is set to open in January and will house the health system's growing residency program, as well as the offices for Cape Fear Valley Neurology and Neurosurgery. "Since Cape Fear Valley started its residency program in 2017, 60 residents have graduated as of June 2022,'' says Jamie Powell, the foundation's gis officer. "Of those, 11 pursued fellowships or additional residencies. Forty-nine went into practice, and 50% of those (25 graduates) stayed to serve at Cape Fear Valley or the surrounding region." Other initiatives the foundation has helped fund in recent years include a behavioral health expansion in Cumberland County; expanding cancer care and upgrading facilities at cancer centers; a future opening of a cancer center in Lillington; increasing program support for simulation equipment and education materials for training; supporting rehabilitation services; and enhancing children's services. Monetary donations can be one-time or a recurring gi and may be designated for specific areas, such as the cancer center or to the greatest need of the health system. "Giving to healthcare is easy because there are so many ways to do it and you can impact so many different areas of care that might be important to the donor or to the greatest needs of the health system, which can vary depending on the time," Brooks says. Donors also can make a tribute gi to honor, memorialize or support someone with medical needs at the hospital by going to the foundation website. For memorial or legacy gis, there are several options, including naming Cape Fear Valley in estate plans; planning beneficiary designations for assets not named in wills; including non-probate assets such as IRAs, 401(k)s and life insurance policies; donating securities; or giving from an IRA. e foundation also launched a program called FreeWill, an online tool to create a legal will without charge. "Creating a will is important, and anyone who needs one can create one using our site,'' Powell says. "It will also allow anyone to choose to leave a lasting gi to the hospital if they choose to do so.'' When it comes to donating, every gi counts, foundation officials say. "No gi is too small," Brooks says. For more information, go to cfvfoundation.org or call 910-615- 1285 to talk with the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation staff. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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