NEF News Spring 2020

SPRING 2020 EDITION
A NOTE FROM PAT HORTON
NORTHEAST FOUNDATION BOARD CHAIR
For over 80 years our hospital has been serving this community, and the
Foundation has helped its growth since its inception in 1994 by raising the
dollars to build the Jeff Gordon Children’s Center, the Breast Health Center,
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, the expansion of the
Tucker Hospice House and several other initiatives which
have greatly impacted care in our community.
The Foundation strives to fund critical needs in the
hospital to ensure Atrium Health Cabarrus is the First
and Best choice for healthcare for those living in our
communities.
Healthcare is undergoing rapid and historic transformation impacting every
facet of our country, including our local community. The NorthEast Foundation
provides additional funding for Atrium Health Cabarrus to enhance important
lifesaving programs, services and technology that impact patient care.
This year is the final year of our “We Give First” Campaign
to raise $8 million to improve Health, elevate Hope and
advance Healing for all. As Board Chair, I hope you will
consider making a donation to help us reach our $8 million
goal.
2018
2019
2017
2020
GOAL: $8 Million
OUR MISSION The mission of NorthEast Foundation is to
Improve HEALTH, Elevate HOPE and Advance HEALING for all
through awareness of and fundraising for Atrium Health Cabarrus.
OUR VISION To be the first and best choice for philanthropy
in our Community.
GiveNorthEastFoundation.org
FOLLOW US:

ANNUAL CELEBRATION
AND AWARDS
The Foundation kicked-off its final year of the “We Give First”
campaign at the Annual Celebration at the Cabarrus Country
Club to honor current and past leaders, Board of Directors,
community donors and corporate partners who have
contributed to its success.
Board Chair Pat Horton and NorthEast Foundation
President Charlie Sastoque hosted the evening, and took the
opportunity to introduce Chris Bowe, Asha Rodriguez and Dr.
Cameron Cruickshank and their new roles and responsibilities
within Atrium Health and the Cabarrus College of Health
Sciences.
A testimonial was provided by Kannapolis
resident Alex Brandon, who suffered
four strokes at the age of 26. His story
of how a positive outlook, the support of
staff at Atrium Health Cabarrus and our
rehab facility, along with rehab equipment
funded by our donors have transformed
him from a quadriplegic to being upright
and walking again. His wit, charm and
amazing outlook on life were a highlight of the evening.
The NorthEast Foundation also acknowledged Past Immediate
Board Chair Dakeita Vanderburg for her leadership and
guidance over the past two years as well as thanking three
distinguished members of the community who rolled off the
Board in 2020, Dr. Scott Baker, William Connolly, Sr. and John
Morrison, Jr.

The Annual Celebration hosts presented
distinguished awards to several individuals
and corporate partners who have reached a
new level of lifetime giving with the NorthEast
Foundation, including five new Cornerstone
Donors.
CORNERSTONE - $100,000 TO $499,999
Mike and Loretta Coltrane
Jeff Gordon, Inc.
TEAM HONEYCUTT/Allen Tate Realtors
Top Gun Sports, LLC
US Acute Care Solutions
LEADER - $10,000 TO $49,999
Books-A-Million
Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation
Dr. Linda and Mr. Chuck Bresnahan
The Byrd Agency, Inc.
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center
Jason and Holly Cagle
Casco Signs, Inc.
Chelish Moore Flowers
Sue & Roy Davis
Larry & Jan Hendley
Hendrick Motorsports
John and Connie King
Debbie Littlefield - Breast Cancer Fundraiser
Jane Nymberg
Tom Risser
Tri Tang
The Wine Room at Afton Village

LEADERSHIP CHANGES AT
ATRIUM HEALTH CABARRUS
We are excited to introduce two new hospital
administrators and the new President of Cabarrus
College of Health Sciences.
Chris Bowe
is now
Senior Vice
President,
Market
President –
Northeast
Market,
including
Atrium Health Cabarrus,
Stanly, University City and
the free-standing Emergency
Departments in Huntersville,
Harrisburg and Kannapolis.
Chris joined Atrium Health in
2017 serving as VP and COO of
the Central Division.
Asha
Rodriguez
is now Vice
President,
Facility
Executive
for Atrium
Health
Cabarrus.
Asha has been with Atrium
Health since 2018 and
previously served our
hospital as Vice President
of Operations. You might
remember seeing Asha hit the
runway in our 2019 Foundation
Fashion Night.
Cameron
Cruickshank,
PhD, has
been
appointed
the next
President
of the
Cabarrus
College of Health Sciences.
His executive experience spans
15 years and includes serving
as a vice president at three
universities. Dr. Cruickshank
will start his appointment
on March 16.
WELCOME
A “BOARD”!
NorthEast Foundation announced changes to its Executive Committee
and six new members to its Board of Directors at the start of 2020.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pat Horton,
Board Chair
Regional President,
Uwharrie Bank
Hank Alston
Merrill Lynch
Christopher
Holland, MD
Neurosurgeon, Carolina
Neurosurgery & Spine
Associates, LLC
Dianne Snyder,
Board Vice Chair
Retired, College
Educator and
President
Cameron
Cruickshank, PhD
President, Cabarrus
College of Health
Sciences
Tom Jones, MD
Radiologist,
Charlotte Radiology
Dakeita
Vanderberg,
Immediate Past
Chair
Broker, TEAM
HONEYCUTT/Allen
Tate Realtors
John Heinzerling, MD
Radiation Oncologist,
Southeast Radiation
Oncology Group, PA
Kelly Propst, EdD
Former Assistant
Superintendent,
Cabarrus County
Schools

DR. CHRIS CHRISTY
NAMED 2020 LILLIBRIDGE
OUTSTANDING PHYSICIAN
AWARD RECIPIENT
Facility Executive and Vice President
Asha Rodriguez pinning Dr. Christy
The Lillibridge Outstanding Physician Award is
bestowed to a physician who exhibits exceptional
leadership, and works and gives of his time, talents
and treasures to the NorthEast Foundation and Atrium
Health Cabarrus. This year’s recipient, voted on by
his peers of past winners, is Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Dr. Chris Christy. Dr. Christy served on the NorthEast
Foundation Founding Board of Directors 25 years ago
and is a beloved physician at Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute. Due to the cancelation of the NorthEast
Foundation Gala, Dr. Christy will be honored at a signature event in the fall.
Congratulations and so deserved! Our facility would not be what and where
it is without his vision and commitment to bring an open-heart program to
Cabarrus County! From a tech in the ER to a humble and genius surgeon!
Honestly, he knows or has some connection to everyone he meets.
Facebook message from: Rhonda Wright
NORTHEAST FOUNDATION RECEIVES
A $43,689 GRANT FROM NASCAR
DRIVER BRAD KESELOWSKI FOR NEW,
INAUGURAL VETERANS PROGAM
NASCAR Driver Brad Keselowski’s Checkered
Flag Foundation will fund an inaugural Veterans
Recognition Program at Atrium Health Cabarrus
through a grant submitted by the NorthEast
Foundation. The program, set to launch in March,
was a need identified by caring, committed and
dedicated nurses advocating for veteran patients.
Like the Checkered Flag Foundation, Atrium Health
Cabarrus wants to honor and assist those who
have sacrificed greatly for our country through
the establishment of the Veterans Recognition
Program.
The Atrium Health Cabarrus Veterans Recognition
Program will ensure every identified veteran
patient experiences a special welcome upon
hospital admission as well as recognition and
appreciation for their sacrificial service during their
hospital stay. In addition, our veteran patients will
be honored and recognized with the “Code Honor”
protocol upon their passing in the hospital.
GiveNorthEastFoundation.org

KATE GREW
RETIREMENT
HOSPITAL
HAPPENINGS
New Cardiac
Procedure Performed
On Tuesday, January 28, 2020,
Atrium Health Cabarrus successfully
completed its first TAVR (Transcatheter
aortic valve replacement) procedure
on-site via the Heart & Vascular Center.
The procedure was performed by two
Atrium Health Cabarrus physicians,
Dr. Terence Hill (interventional
cardiologist) and Dr. Christopher
Cicci (surgeon).
The procedure has been done before
at Atrium Sanger Heart & Vascular
Institute in Charlotte and will now
be offered to qualifying patients
here at our hospital. The surgery is
revolutionary, minimally invasive and
is another option to someone who is
too high risk for open heart surgery.
“It’s really exciting that we have been
able to work closely with the entire
structural heart team with Sanger in
the Atrium Health System to bring this
lifesaving technology closer to home
for the people in Concord, Cabarrus
County and the NorthEast Charlotte
area. This is a major step in Atrium
Health Cabarrus being able to offer
full service cardiac care,” said Dr.
Terence Hill.
This innovative procedure is one way
that Atrium Health Cabarrus continues
to press forward in providing the
best healthcare for our patients and
community.
Chief Nursing Executive and NorthEast
Foundation supporter Kate Grew recently
announced her retirement from Atrium
Health Cabarrus at the end of April. Kate
has held senior management positions while
at Atrium Health Cabarrus, has advocated
for our patients and nursing staff, and is one of the most
respected leaders in our hospital.
Kate has also been a guiding force for the Foundation team
in identifying needs within the hospital. She served in the U.S.
Army Nurse Corps and was an integral part of the new Veterans
Recognition Program which was announced earlier this year.
Join us in thanking Kate for her service to our community, our
hospital staff and patients and our Foundation.
APPROXIMATELY
34% OF CABARRUS
COUNTY CHILDREN
ARE OVERWEIGHT
or obese according to the 2016
Community Needs Assessment.
Obesity is one of the primary causes
of preventable chronic diseases in the country and can
also lead to long-term physical and emotional issues and
challenges in children.
Walk Cabarrus is a community-wide walking campaign
focused on creating healthier lifestyles by challenging
residents to reach One Billion Steps together, as a community.
Register at www.walkcabarrus.com to log your steps towards
our community goal, explore new places in the county to walk
and learn tips that make it easier to get more active through
the partnership with Move Your Way. Walk Cabarrus is focused
on getting new walkers active and encourage residents who
are already active to STAY active and live a healthy life for a
long time.
Visit www.WalkCabarrus.com to support
this event through the NorthEast Foundation.
920 Church Street North | Concord, NC 28025 | 704-403-1369