Bank donates funds to help Lanier, Berrien hospitals

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, March 20, 2019

By Terry Richards terry.richards@gaflnews.com

VALDOSTA — A Moultrie-based bank is lending a helping hand to rural hospitals across South Central Georgia, including those in Lanier and Berrien counties.

Ameris Bank has donated $1.65 million through the Georgia HEART Program to 16 hospitals in rural communities. South Georgia Medical Center’s Berrien and Lanier campuses will each get $25,000. 

The Georgia HEART Hospital Program partners with the Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit bill to increase funding to rural and critical access hospitals.

Ameris Bank more than doubled its first donation to rural hospitals through the HEART Program in 2018, according to a statement from the bank. 

Each hospital will be able to use the funds as it sees fit, said Michael Lee, regional president for Ameris Bank.

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“(Ameris Bank) has a great desire to partner with hospitals in our community to provide quality health care,” he said. “Rural hospitals have certainly had challenges in recent years.”

SGMC will use the donations to fund capital expenditures and assist with physician recruitment at its Lanier and Berrien campuses, according to a statement from the hospital.

“As a community bank grounded in service and character, we consider it a great honor to be able to make these contributions to support families across rural Georgia,” said Dennis J. Zember Jr., Ameris Bank chief executive officer. “We are neighbors in these communities, and we are committed to doing our part to help bring them financial peace of mind and advance access to quality health care.” 

The other hospitals receiving donations from Ameris Bank include Brooks County Hospital (Quitman), Coffee Regional Medical Center (Douglas), Colquitt Regional Medical Center (Moultrie), Crisp Regional Hospital (Cordele), Donalsonville Hospital, Effingham Hospital — Springfield, Grady General Hospital (Cairo), Irwin County Hospital (Ocilla), Jasper Memorial Hospital (Monticello), John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital (Thomasville), Liberty Regional Medical Center (Hinesville), Meadows Regional Medical Center (Vidalia), Tift Regional Medical Center (Tifton) and WellStar Sylvan Grove Hospital (Jackson).

Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times.