$195,000 to support Macon County Emergency Medical Services
The 2019 38th Annual Highlands Country Club Bob Jones Invitational Tournament proceeds provided $145,000 toward the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation access to healthcare, emergency transport initiatives.
This year’s fundraiser included a $50,000 matching grant from the Foundation, totaling $195,000 to support a contribution to Macon County Emergency Medical Services. These funds will be used for state-of-the-art equipment in ambulances serving the Highlands area.
Specifically, the new truck stationed in Highlands is now equipped with automated high-performance CPR devices, proven to save more lives by eliminating human error when administering CPR.
Macon EMS gave board members a look at the new emergency equipment on Friday at the Highlands Country Club. From left are Todd Doster – Macon County EMS Coordinator; Wayne Beckner – Bob Jones Committee Member; Robin Tindall – Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation CEO and Executive Director; Jim Santo – Co-Chair Bob Jones Committee; Anne Bailey – Co-Chair Bob Jones Committee; Ed Crenshaw – Bob Jones Committee Member; Jeremy Cabe – Macon County EMS Supervisor.
Macon County EMS Training Officer and Lead Supervisor Jeremy Cabe said it makes a big difference in cardiac incidents out in the field.
“It takes over the job of manual compression with mechanical compressions, which are more consistent and accurate,” said Cabe. “Compression is the most important role in cardiac events, nothing trumps compression and this increases survivability in cardiac arrests.”
Cabe added that he and his crews appreciate being chosen as the recipient of the Invitational and showed several board members some of the benefits of the new equipment on Friday at the HCC.
“We appreciate their support and willingness to help,” he said. “They live here as well, and it not only benefits them and their families, but it helps the entire area.”
Other purchased equipment includes power stretchers and power load systems, which meet the vehicle crash standards while also reducing workplace injuries related to lifting. In addition, funds were used to purchase advance life support equipment, IV infusion pumps, stairway transport equipment, radios with improved transmitters, and laptop computers.
From left are Todd Doster – Macon County EMS Coordinator; Ed Crenshaw – Bob Jones Committee Member; Anne Bailey – Co-Chair Bob Jones Committee; Wayne Beckner – Bob Jones Committee Member; Robin Tindall – Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation CEO and Executive Director; Jim Santo – Co-Chair Bob Jones Committee; Jeremy Cabe – Macon County EMS Supervisor.
Macon County EMS Coordinator Todd Doster said some of the new equipment will be used by area fire departments working in collaboration with Macon County EMS.
“It benefits EMS directly with the automated CPR devices and the fire departments around us will have some of this equipment as well,” said Doster. “If they arrive on the scene before us, they can begin setting up the system and save time.”
Additional contributions supporting the Invitational included a $100,000 unrestricted gift, which will be collaboratively directed by the Tournament Committee and the Foundation to fund critical needs in our local communities.
Co-chairs of the Invitational, Anne Bailey and Jim Santo, and other board members saw the new CPR equipment in the ambulance and spoke with Jeremy and Doster at HCC on Friday to get a breakdown of how this helps emergency crews in the field.
“This new equipment is great and it’s going to save lives,” said Santo. “We always try and support the healthcare needs of this area and this is a major one.”
Todd Doster demonstrates the benefits of one of the power-load system at Highlands Country Club on Friday.
Bailey said the Invitational gave the proceeds to the Highlands Cashiers Hospital for many years and they wanted to continue supporting healthcare in the area.
“The hospital has always been the recipient until they went public,” said Bailey. “But we’ve always been interested in supporting good healthcare in the mountains.”
Macon EMS Todd Doster gives Ed Crenshaw (left) and Jim Santo a breakdown of how the power-load system works.
Macon County EMS Director Warren Cabe said it is a much-appreciated show of support.
“We greatly need and appreciate this generous-financial support due to the budget constraints we continually experience,” said Warren. “Every year as we strive to make ends meet operationally, we inevitably have to cut or hold off on capital equipment purchases. Thanks to the generosity of Highlands Country Club and the Foundation we are accomplishing our goals to exceed national standards for improving emergency transport care and increasing staff safety by equipping all of our vehicles with state-of the art equipment.”
Foundation Chair Dr. Walter Clark said the generosity of the Highlands community has raised millions of dollars over the years.
“We are extremely grateful for our partnership with Highlands Country Club,” said Clark. “Over the years their generosity to our Highlands community has been outstanding, totaling more than $5.5 million for vital healthcare services on the Plateau. We are honored to be a part of this distinguished annual tradition that provides tremendous benefit to our community.”
Foundation Executive Director Robin Tindall said they are grateful for HCC’s support.
“Working with the Highlands Country Club Bob Jones Golf Tournament is always a significant highlight of our year,” said Tindall. “The character of this club befits the Bob Jones legend. It is incredible to experience the outpouring of philanthropy their membership so willingly provides to help our permanent and seasonal residents. We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.”
About the Highlands Country Club Bob Jones Tournament
Highlands history of Bob Jones dates to 1928 when the legendary amateur struck the first tee shot on what is now the Highlands Country Club golf course. He played the course frequently and in 1930 used it in preparation for his winning of the “Grand Slam” of golf – both the Open and Amateur Championships of the United States and Great Britain. In the brief years of his championship career, not once in his life did he play for money. To Bob Jones, golf was just a game, and he wrote publicly in his retirement that family came first. His name became an international metaphor for everything that is classic about golf. The Highlands Country Club Bob Jones Invitational Tournament began in 1982 as a pro-am. In 1990 the tournament began featuring Walker Cup players as team captains, to better commemorate Bob Jones’ lifelong status as an amateur golfer. Four of his personal clubs are on display in the Main Clubhouse at Highlands Country Club in memory of his “Grand Slam.”
For more information about the Cashiers Health Foundation click HERE or call 828.482.6513.
Article and Photos by Brian O’Shea
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