The Capital Campaign for St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital surged ahead recently when officials from BankSouth announced they have made a $400,000 donation to help the hospital acquire state-of-the-art equipment, furnishings and technology for its new replacement facility now under construction on Lake Oconee Parkway.

“It is especially rewarding to see how the medical profession has grown and matured in our community,” said Harold Reynolds, Chair and CEO of BankSouth. “We are proud of the medical professionals who serve our community and enable all of us to get world-class care here, without having to drive to Athens or Atlanta. St. Mary’s is an important addition to the community and we are pleased to support the effort.”

Led by Bobby Voyles, BankSouth Foundation Ltd is a 501(c)3 not-for profit organization, which is the legal entity making the gift. The BankSouth Holding Company family of employees and companies that contributed to the gift to St. Mary’s includes BankSouth, LoanSouth and Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty/Lake Country.

“St. Mary’s $40 million investment in our community is huge,” said Voyles. “We are very impressed with their vision, dedication and commitment, and are very pleased that we can be part of a community-wide effort to raise the level of quality even higher in our new hospital.”

Good Samaritan Hospital President Montez Carter said, “We are blessed to have community partners like the good people at BankSouth. Through the generosity of BankSouth and many, many people across our region, we have already raised about $3 million to provide equipment, furnishings and technology that otherwise would not be possible. With today’s donation, we are almost 38 percent of the way to our goal of $8 million.”

Donations to the Good Samaritan Capital Campaign will be used exclusively for Good Samaritan Hospital, Carter noted. Examples include a Phillips telemetric patient monitoring system, Stryker patient beds, a digital x-ray room, state-of-the-art surgical lights and more.

“We feel it is incredibly important for donors to know that every dollar given to this campaign stays right here, at Good Samaritan Hospital,” said Crysty Odom, St. Mary’s Foundation Director. “We know people here are donating to make this hospital the best it can be for this community. We honor and respect their passion for quality healthcare right here in Greene County and pledge to apply 100 percent of their donations to making this hospital the best it can be.”

To make a donation to St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital’s Capital Campaign Fund contact Odom at 706-389-3926 or odom@stmarysathens.org.