Every now and then, I am asked why I give to Pardee Hospital Foundation. It's a question I love to answer!
I give because UNC Health Pardee is a nonprofit hospital committed to understanding and meeting the health needs of our community, with urgency, compassion, and excellence. I give because I know my gift stays local, serving my friends, neighbors, family members, and everyone who calls this region home.
And I give because I have experienced the return on investment that comes from giving: in the care I have received, in the lives I have seen touched, and in the difference we are making together.
It is always through our donors that we are reminded of our WHY. For instance, you will read about Bill Meyers in this month's issue. Bill created a beautiful tribute to his late wife, Maryke —a story of love, legacy, and the desire to help others. |
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This month, as we celebrate Nurse's Week and Hospital Week, I find myself especially grateful for the people who make UNC Health Pardee such a remarkable place.
Our nurses, in particular, are the heart of the hospital — providing expert care, comfort, and hope to every patient who walks through our doors. This month and always, we honor their dedication and recognize the essential role they play in our hospital’s mission.
Also this month, we celebrate the third anniversary of Mammo on the Go, and all of the women who have courageously stepped onto the bus for life-saving breast cancer screenings. Have you put this at the top of your to-do list this year?
Speaking of lists, be sure to read about a “to-do” list with lasting impact: The Essentials, a collection of practical tools that directly support patient care and safety. Every item you contribute to on this list puts help into the hands of our care teams right away.
And impact doesn't always take the form of a financial contribution. If you have ever thought about getting more involved with the work of Pardee Hospital Foundation, now is the perfect time. We are gearing up for the most exciting and rewarding volunteer opportunity of the year: planning the annual Women Helping Women Luncheon. This beloved event would not be possible without the creativity, dedication, and ideas of people like YOU. Your unique perspective can help make this year’s luncheon the most meaningful yet.
At Pardee Hospital Foundation, we believe that health care is strengthened by partnership between donors and caregivers, neighbors and leaders, compassion and action.
Thank you for being part of this mission. Your support helps ensure that UNC Health Pardee remains a place of healing and hope for generations to come. |
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When Bill Meyers lost his wife, Maryke, he wanted to honor her memory and the exceptional care she received at Pardee Cancer Center. By creating the Maryke S. Meyers Scholarship Endowment, Bill is ensuring future caregivers will have access to continuing education, carrying forward Maryke’s passion for learning and the compassionate care she experienced.
Discover how this meaningful gift will inspire others. Read more ➔
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Program Officer, Andrew Schmidt, Executive Director Amy Treece, Board Member Debbie Rouse, and Andrea Martin pose with "Lady Haven," designed by Martin as a tribute to the memory of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. |
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“Lady Haven” Unveiled for the 2025 Bearfootin’ Art Walk
A Bear-y Special Tribute to Community, Resilience, and Women’s Health
Downtown Hendersonville’s beloved Bearfootin’ Art Walk is back for 2025—and this year, one special bear is carrying a powerful message of remembrance, resilience, and hope.
Titled “Lady Haven,” the bear was designed by Andrea Martin, owner of Meliora House of Design, as a tribute to Lake Lure’s cherished Rainbow Bridge, a beloved feature of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. Both the Rainbow Bridge and the Flowering Bridge were tragically destroyed during Hurricane Helene, leaving a profound sense of loss for the community. Andrea’s design beautifully honors the spirit of this special place and the memories it holds.
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This meaningful piece was generously sponsored by Mast Builders, whose support ensures that Lady Haven does more than stand as a work of art—she also helps fund critical care for women in our region. Proceeds from the sale of Lady Haven will benefit Pardee Hospital Foundation’s Women Helping Women program, which provides lifesaving breast and gynecological care to uninsured and under-insured women in our community.
You can find Lady Haven proudly on display in front of the Historic Courthouse in downtown Hendersonville through the end of September. Virtual bidding opens September 25th. We invite you to stop by, take a photo, and reflect on the powerful story she represents.
We are grateful to Meliora Cabinets by Design, LLC and Mast Builders, LLC for bringing this vision to life, and for supporting local women through their sponsorship. Together, art, community, and generosity are making a real difference. |
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The Essentials: A To-Do List with Lasting Impact
At UNC Health Pardee, delivering exceptional care often starts with the essentials, the practical tools that make each patient’s experience safer, more comfortable, and more effective.
These are not big-ticket items or high-tech innovations. They are the day-to-day necessities: a patient recliner that eases the hours of treatment. A patient lift that protects caregivers and patients alike. A smart bed that alerts staff before a fall.
Every item on The Essentials List represents a need identified by Pardee’s frontline caregivers, tools they have asked for to care better, faster, and safer.
And thanks to donor support, every item funded is purchased and put to work immediately. No waiting. No red tape. Just solutions delivered straight to the bedside. - Want to check something meaningful off your list?
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Want to help provide what is needed - when it is needed?
Your contribution to the Essentials List today can fund an Essential Need tomorrow. Because sometimes, the smallest tools make the biggest difference. |
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Your Voice Matters:
Join the Women Helping Women Luncheon Planning Team
Each year, the Women Helping Women Luncheon brings our community together in a powerful way, united by the desire to ensure that every woman in our region has access to lifesaving breast and gynecological care, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
This signature event of Pardee Hospital Foundation is more than a fundraiser; it is a celebration of compassion, camaraderie, and community action. And it all starts with the volunteers who give their time, talents, and ideas to make the luncheon a meaningful and memorable experience.
Planning is now underway, and we would love for you to be part of it. Whether you have an eye for design, a knack for organization, a passion for storytelling, or simply want to lend a helping hand, your unique perspective and skills can help shape this year’s event. |
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Volunteering for the Women Helping Women Luncheon is not only a rewarding way to give back, it is a chance to connect with others who care deeply about making a difference.
Together, we are moving in the same direction: providing critical screenings, early detection, and care for uninsured and under-insured women in our community. When you volunteer, you are helping to bring hope, health, and healing to women who need it most.
If you are interested in volunteering or learning more, please contact us at [email protected] or call 828-233-2700, We cannot wait to welcome you to the team! |
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Pardee Maintains ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group
UNC Health Pardee earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national non-profit watchdog that sets standards for excellence in patient care. Pardee has received straight ‘A’ recognition since Spring 2023, placing it in the top 32% of hospitals nationwide and one of only 35 in North Carolina.
Read more here: Pardee Maintains ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade
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Celebrating Three Years of Lifesaving Access: Mammo on the Go
This month marks the third anniversary of Mammo on the Go, UNC Health Pardee’s mobile mammography unit that delivers state-of-the-art 3-D breast imaging directly to women across Western North Carolina. For the past three years, women have been stepping onto a bus that could save their lives, accessing lifesaving screenings close to home, at work, and in their communities.
But what has truly kept Mammo on the Go rolling is donor generosity.
Each mile traveled, each screening performed, is made possible by people who give to Pardee Hospital Foundation, people who believe that no woman should have to sacrifice quality care or early detection because of distance, cost, or circumstance.
Donors are the reason this program exists, and the reason it continues to reach more women every year.
Mammo on the Go provides the same advanced care as UNC Health Pardee’s Breast Center, staffed by specially trained, certified female technologists and supported by board-certified radiologists. If an issue is detected, the care team ensures seamless follow-up within the UNC Health Pardee network—because no woman should have to navigate this journey alone.
Thanks to donor support, Mammo on the Go is more than a mobile unit, it is a moving symbol of hope, prevention, and access. Every gift helps keep it on the road, bringing lifesaving screenings to women who need them most.
Want to see when Mammo on the Go will be in your area, or request a site visit for your business or organization? |
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Supporting Our Community's Health
Pardee Hospital Foundation is dedicated to raising funds and awareness to meet the specific needs of UNC Health Pardee. As a non-profit public hospital owned by Henderson County but not funded by it, UNC Health Pardee relies on community support to advance patient care, enhance technology, foster research, and support vital clinical programs. Through the generosity of our donors, the Foundation ensures that UNC Health Pardee will continue to provide exceptional care and inspire health for generations to come.
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