Pardee Hospital Foundation

Donor support will enhance the $30M state-funded project with a therapeutic outdoor space

Pardee Hospital Foundation has announced the launch of its year-end fundraising campaign supporting UNC Health Pardee’s new inpatient Adolescent Behavioral Health Center, scheduled to open in 2026. The center is being made possible through a $30 million partnership between the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Vaya Health, and the UNC School of Medicine, which funds the creation of the inpatient facility. While this investment lays the foundation, philanthropic support is essential to enhance the project, beginning with therapeutic outdoor space designed specifically for young patients in crisis.

“We have the foundation of the project thanks to the State’s $30 million investment,” said Amy Treece, Executive Director, Pardee Hospital Foundation. “Now we turn to our community to help us bring this space to life—creating an environment that ensures every young patient who walks through our doors feels safe, supported, and seen.”

With youth mental health challenges continuing to rise across the region, the center will provide a safe and compassionate environment for stabilization and treatment. The addition of a therapeutic outdoor space, made possible through community support, will offer adolescents opportunities for movement and connection, all of which are proven to support healing and clinical outcomes.

“As mental health needs continue to grow, this center represents hope for families across our region,” said Bridget Fluech, Administrative Director of Behavioral Health and Emergency Medicine at UNC Health Pardee.  “The therapeutic outdoor space will give young people a place to breathe and enjoy nature during one of the most difficult moments in their lives.”

How the Community Can Help

Pardee Hospital Foundation is inviting individuals, families, businesses, and community organizations to join this effort by making a year-end, tax-deductible gift. Donations will directly support the therapeutic outdoor space and other enhancements that elevate the environment of care for young patients receiving treatment.

Ways to Give:

• Visit our webpage Space that Heals – Pardee Hospital Foundation
• Give securely online or mail a gift to Pardee Hospital Foundation, 561 Fleming Street, Hendersonville, NC 28739
• Contact the Foundation at 828-233-2700 to discuss giving options

“Every gift is an investment in the mental health of our region’s young people,” added Treece “Together, we can create a healing space that empowers young people to rediscover their strength, resilience, and hope.”

Pardee Hospital Foundation is proud to announce a generous gift of $79,018.18 from Kenmure Fights Cancer, a long-standing community partner dedicated to advancing cancer care close to home. These funds support Pardee Cancer Center and were used to purchase four state-of-the-art Quality Assurance (QA) devices for the Linear Accelerator system in the Department of Radiation Oncology. Kenmure’s contribution strengthens Pardee’s ability to deliver safe, precise, and effective treatment for every patient who entrusts us with their care.

“We are deeply grateful to the Kenmure Fights Cancer community for their ongoing commitment to our patients and providers,” said Amy Treece, Executive Director of Pardee Hospital Foundation. “This gift helps us continue providing exceptional, life-saving care right here in Henderson County, and it demonstrates the power of a community working together to make a difference in the fight against cancer.”

Kenmure’s donation funded the acquisition of four advanced QA instruments, including an IC Profiler, ID Scanner, PC Electrometer, and an ArcCheck. These tools play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of Pardee’s radiation therapy treatments. This equipment is used for daily, monthly, and annual machine performance checks, as well as individualized pre-treatment patient quality assurance — a vital step that confirms each treatment plan is delivered with the highest level of precision.

“With this generous donation, Pardee Cancer Center continues to meet — and exceed — the most rigorous standards in radiation oncology,” said Thomas Dellinger, Medical Physicist at Pardee Cancer Center. “The new equipment allows Pardee to maintain exceptional accuracy in our Linear Accelerator systems, ensuring that every patient receives treatment that is both safe and highly effective.”

Since its founding, Kenmure Fights Cancer has raised more than $560,650.00 for local cancer care, helping ensure that patients in Western North Carolina have access to advanced diagnostics, treatments, and support services close to home.

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — The Pardee Hospital Foundation’s Annual Women Helping Women Luncheon, presented by First Bank, held Friday, October 24 at Blue Ridge Community College, brought together more than 430 guests for an inspiring afternoon of compassion, community, and hope — and a record-breaking year of support for women’s health in Henderson County.

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, donors, and attendees, this year’s event raised over $139,000, the highest total in the program’s history. These funds will directly support women in our community who are uninsured or underinsured, ensuring access to essential and often lifesaving care — from mammograms and diagnostic imaging to surgery, treatment, and beyond.

This year’s keynote speaker, Jamie Valvano, daughter of legendary basketball coach Jim Valvano, inspired attendees with her moving story of resilience and hope, challenging everyone to “believe in the impossible” and live with a bold, audacious vision. Her words inspired attendees to carry forward the Women Helping Women mission with renewed purpose.

Guests were also moved by the story of Sterling Woodruff, who shared her journey as a breast cancer survivor alongside her UNC Health Pardee breast surgeon, Dr. Jennifer McAlister. Their story reflected the true heart of Women Helping Women — ensuring that every woman has access to the care and compassion she needs during life’s most challenging moments.

The Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to all who made this year’s event possible, including Presenting Sponsor, First Bank; Diamond Sponsors, Brian & Gail Garren, Meliora House of Design/Andrea Martin, and Fireside Golf; and Women of Hope Sponsors, Associated Land Surveyors and Planners, PC, Construction Specialties & Design Builders, Inc., Charlotte Corrigan, Marty Cornwell, Angie Edgell, Patricia Haire, Idaph Events + Timing, LS3P, Dr. Neal and Ann Dennison Marrano, Carol Morrison, Robinson Hill Humanitarian Fund, Stuller Power Solutions, and Vannoy Construction, as well as the many Silver, Ruby and Pearl sponsors who contributed to this year’s success. Special thanks are also extended to the dedicated Women Helping Women Committee whose leadership and passion continue to drive this mission forward.

In addition to the luncheon, community partners across Henderson County found creative ways to give back throughout October in support of Women Helping Women. From restaurant givebacks to golf, tennis, and pickleball tournaments, to walk and run events, these efforts collectively made a meaningful difference. The Foundation is deeply grateful to businesses and organizations including Tooley’s Café, AlyKat Deli, Green River BBQ, Campfire Grill, Champion Hills, Lake Pointe Landing, Hendersonville Country Club, Fireside Golf, and Andrea Martin for hosting events and donating portions of sales to support women’s health initiatives. Their dedication and enthusiasm demonstrate the power of community coming together for a common cause.

Since its founding in 1997, Women Helping Women has raised more than $3.4 million to help local women access the care they need. What began nearly three decades ago as an effort to provide mammograms to uninsured women has grown into a vital program that offers assistance for a wide range of medical services, ensuring that women in our community receive care close to home where they are seen, valued, and supported.

“Each year, this event reminds us of the incredible compassion and strength within our community,” said Amy Treece, Executive Director, Pardee Hospital Foundation.  “The generosity of our donors, sponsors, and volunteers truly transforms lives and ensures that women in our community never face a health crisis alone.”

About Pardee Hospital Foundation
The Pardee Hospital Foundation raises funds to support UNC Health Pardee in delivering exceptional healthcare close to home. Since its founding in 1996, the Foundation has worked alongside generous donors and community partners to fund lifesaving technology, critical programs, and facility enhancements that advance patient care throughout Western North Carolina. To learn more, visit pardeehospitalfoundation.org.