Tim Broyles of State Farm Insurance in Eatonton recently provided Putnam General Hospital (PGH) with a $5,000 check. This donation will be instrumental to the PGH Foundation in continuing to finance improvements at the hospital.
“We have some equipment upgrades that we’d like to make and some renovations, and donations like this one will ensure our hospital continues to care for our community in the best way possible,” Putnam General Hospital CEO Alan Horton said.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to help support Putnam General Hospital and their amazing staff in their efforts to keep us all healthy and thriving,” Broyles added following a brief ceremony on March 15, outside the hospital’s front doors.
PGH Foundation Director Tracy Stickley also noted that Broyles contributed to the hospital through the Georgia HEART (Helping Enhance Access to Rural Treatment) Tax Program this year.
“Georgia HEART donations don’t really cost you anything; you will pay some state taxes ahead of schedule, but you get every cent back when you file your taxes; and Putnam General Hospital receives those tax dollars that would have just gone out of the county to the Department of Revenue,” Stickley said.
She explained practically every tax-paying citizen is eligible to contribute something through Georgia HEART, adding that it truly helps the hospital to thrive by lessening the burden the hospital bears in caring for those without insurance, which typically represents approximately 14% of Putnam County's population.
“Ultimately, it would help every single person that walks through our doors, whether they are an employee or a patient,” Stickley suggested. “Seriously, it is the smart thing to do.”
Visit www.georgiaheart.org to take advantage of the HEART opportunity –taxes are a required expenditure anyway – and support Putnam County’s rural hospital. For more information, call 706-9232028 or email Stickley at tstickley@putnamgeneral. com.
“We hope that Tim Broyle’s donation to the Foundation will inspire others to partner with us in our efforts to continue to expand our services in caring for all our patients,” Horton said.