Wednesday, April 24, 2002

Hospital pays tribute to Granger

Springtime signals many things blooming azaleas, Atlanta Braves baseball and the Fayette Community Hospital Auxiliary Golf Tournament.

This year's event is scheduled for April 29 at the SummerGrove Golf Club in Newnan, and 120 golfers will play for something more than birdies and eagles, and the chance to win $10,000. They will be paying tribute to the late Willis Granger of Peachtree City.

Granger was one of the original tournament organizers. He joined the Auxiliary in 1997, before the hospital opened, and accumulated countless volunteer hours before his death this past February.

"Winning the Masters is considered the pinnacle of a golfer's career," says Laverne Granger, widow of Willis Granger. "The pinnacle of Willis' tenure as a Fayette Community Hospital Auxiliary member was that of being one of the founders of the FCH Auxiliary Golf Tournament. Willis truly had a passion for helping people at FCH and the fact that this tournament is being played in his honor reminds us all of the love he had for Fayette Community Hospital, its patients and its staff."

All proceeds from the tournament will benefit the FCH Therapy Garden, which is already under construction on the Hospital's 28-acre campus. The Therapy Garden will bring together two distinct disciplines: gardening and medicine.

"Thanks to Willis laying the foundation for community support, the upcoming tournament is already nearing capacity," said FCH Auxiliary member and tournament organizer Victoria Rickicki. "Initiatives like the golf tournament, along with the financial contributions of individuals and community partners will be the key in funding the Therapy Garden."

For more information about the golf tournament, volunteering and gift-giving opportunities, contact the Auxiliary office at 770-719-7098.

Fayette Community Hospital, a not-for-profit subsidiary of Piedmont Medical Center and a member of PROMINA Health System, is located on Highway 54 in Fayetteville. Services of the 100-bed community hospital include: 24-hour emergency department and Minor Emergency Care Center; medical/surgical; critical care; diagnostics, including laboratory, radiology and mammography, as well as an Outpatient Diagnostics Center; respiratory;physical therapy and rehabilitation; outpatient surgery and comprehensive outpatient services.