Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare has fulfilled a promise it made to the Augusta community four years ago when they absorbed University Hospital Health Care into their system.
Piedmont’s Augusta Hub on Wednesday distributed $2 million to 44 not-for-profit organizations in Augusta and surrounding communities. As part of the merger in 2021, Piedmont committed to spending $1 billion to improve the facility. It included the promise to provide $2 million a year for ten years to support community organizations.
“Last year was the first year that we did that. Thanks to a lot of hard work, we were able to give away $2 million to a lot of organizations, some small mom-and-pop organizations, and some large healthcare clinics. Doing that, they have the support they needed to provide care for our patients,” Dr. Lily Henson, Piedmont Augusta’s CEO, told members of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce during the final Executive Luncheon Series of 2025 shortly before this year’s round was announced.
To be eligible, organizations must demonstrate the ability to make a measurable impact on health needs that were laid out in the Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy.
In a news release, Gene McManus, chairman of the Piedmont Augusta Board, said the decision by University Health Care System to join Piedmont was tied to a commitment to invest in prevention, population health, and access to care.
“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,” he explained. “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.”
The application process was developed by the Piedmont Augusta Board, hospital executives, and the Community Relations team. It was designed to address the high number of not-for-profit groups that could be eligible.
A committee was formed, and the members visited the applicants to get an up-close look at each organization’s operations. Observations gleaned during those visits, along with a review of applications, formed the final list to receive funds.
“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.”
Organizations selected are from Richmond and Columbia counties in Georgia and Aiken County in South Carolina.
“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. “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.”
The organizations receiving support from Piedmont Augusta in 2026 are:
- 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
- Vincent DePaul Society
- The Hale Foundation
- Tuttle-Newton Home
- Via Cognitive Health
The recipients will receive their funds in early 2026.
