GENEROSITY OF THE WILL ROGERS INSTITUTE REACHES $1 MILLION MILESTONEFor the past eight years, the Will Rogers Institute has partnered with the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center (PNRC) and Covenant Health in Knoxville, Tennessee. With the presentation of the 2008 grant of $200,000, the WRI topped $1 million in total contributions.
"We are very grateful to the board of the Institute for their amazing generosity over the last eight years," said Ginny Morrow, senior vice president for philanthropy at Covenant Health. "These funds are allowing rehabilitation and pulmonary clinicians to expand and enhance their impact on the lives of our patients and our employees. Each life touched makes a difference in the health of the communities we serve."
The funds support a variety of cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation and health improvement initiatives at PNRC and other Covenant Health facilities, including a strong focus on smoking cessation. "We are making a significant impact on the smoking cessation rates of our patients, improving the quality of therapy facilities for patients with pulmonary issues, and are looking forward to expanding our programs for patients with pulmonary diseases and sleep disorders," said Dr. Mary Dillon, medical director at the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center.
One participant who successfully ended a 26-year smoking habit said, "Thank you, Will Rogers Institute, for granting the money to create these types of programs that will enhance people's lives and change them for the better. I wanted you to know that you have changed my life in a major way, a positive way, a healthy way. You are giving back to the people a chance to live a healthier lifestyle."
"We are pleased to be able to support the efforts of the Patricia Neal Center and Covenant Health to improve the health and quality of life for their patients," said Todd Vradenburg, executive director of the Will Rogers Institute. "It's rewarding to see these funds at work in the community where our good friends from Regal Entertainment Group are based."
A portion of last year's grant money was also used to provide continuing education to respiratory therapists and other health-care providers across Covenant Health, and to ensure that patients who were in need of outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation and education could access that care.
For more information on PNRC and Covenant Health, visit
www.patneal.org. 