More than 30 local service organizations and nonprofit agencies received a financial boost, thanks to a commitment made by then-University Hospital, now Piedmont Augusta.
The groups will share in the $1.9 million total contribution announced on Nov. 21. It fulfills an agreement made by the University Health Care System (UHCS) to become an affiliate of Piedmont. UHCS committed to providing $2 million each year for 10 years to support nonprofit organizations that match the Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy for Piedmont’s Augusta Hub.
“In many ways, University Health Care System was ahead of its time, investing in prevention, population health, and access to care through the initial start-up and continual support of community-based clinics, several of which are with us today,” Hugh Hamilton, chair of the Piedmont Augusta Board, explained in the awards presentation. “Since joining Piedmont, our thinking has evolved and broadened to include a focus on our role in addressing social drivers of health, such as homelessness, education, unemployment, and food insecurity.”
Rather than accept applications, the Piedmont Augusta board members chose to identify organizations in Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie, and Aiken counties that most closely matched the strategy’s guidelines. There were 49 organizations selected to be invited to apply. Thirty-eight groups provided the requested documentation, with 32 chosen for this first round of grants.
Among the agencies selected was Child Enrichment, Inc. of Augusta. Kari Viola-Brooke, Executive Director, told ABD she believes their inclusion is a testament to the work they do to help children they serve recover from abuse and neglect. Viola-Brooks said they served more than 1,200 children last year.
“We’re so fortunate for Piedmont and the support they’re giving to make sure we’re able to continue to help kids and families heal after they’ve experienced abuse. It’s phenomenal the amount of support Piedmont is giving back to this community,” she said
Also selected was Heritage Academy, the K-8 school in Augusta’s Olde Town neighborhood. Located in the former Houghton Elementary School on Greene Street, 98% of students who attend the private school are on a scholarship, based on family income. The school’s mission is to serve children of diverse ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds.
Tana Watson, Executive Director of the school said they were thrilled to be one of the original 49 agencies invited to apply. Then, getting the word they had been chosen, was exciting.
“I think we all got a little teary-eyed and so grateful because we can see that our community is taking care of us,” she said. “We always say Heritage Academy is the school Augusta built, and we need places like this to continue investing. We give scholarships up to 94% of what the tuition costs, and so we need these types of grants to continue the work that we do, because every dime we get goes back to the students and their families.”
Working together with community partners is a component of the Piedmont Promise, to make a positive impact on the community, said Dr. Lily Henson, CEO of Piedmont’s Augusta Hub.
“While we’re known for our exceptional clinical and administrative talent, we take great pride in the community impact that our team members make every day outside of our clinical settings,” said Henson. “Day in and day out, our team members are in our communities, often working alongside other nonprofits and reaching people who need our leadership, our expertise, and our help, recognizing that we are stronger when we pool our energy and resources together.”
Listed alphabetically, the organizations receiving support from Piedmont Augusta in 2025 are:
- 143 Ministries
- Apparo Academy
- Augusta Dream Center
- Augusta Locally Grown
- The Augusta Training Shop
- Beulah Grove Community Resource Center/Lamar Medical Center
- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Augusta
- Cancer Support Services
- Child Enrichment
- Christ Community Health Services
- Columbia County Health, Wellness & Fitness Expo
- Compass for Hope
- Druid Park Community Health Center
- Family Promise of Augusta
- GAP Ministries
- Harrisburg Family Health Care
- Helping Hands
- Heritage Academy
- Hope House
- I Am My Brother’s Keeper
- McDuffie Manna
- Neighborhood Improvement Project/Medical Associates Plus
- New Bethlehem Community Center
- Project Life
- Project Refresh
- ReStart Augusta
- RISE Augusta
- SafeHomes
- Turn Back the Block
- Tuttle-Newton Home
- Via Cognitive Health
- Westabou Montessori School
