As a longtime resident of Paulding County, Imogene Walraven Waldrop has a passion for giving back to the community that she called home for years – the place where she made so many memories with her brother, Bobby, and sister, Doris, and where she and her husband spent the early years of their marriage together. Unfortunately, illness has taken the lives of many of Ms. Waldrop's loved ones, which is why she is so dedicated to uplifting the well-being of her community by bolstering healthcare services and enhancing access to care.
In the fall of 2021, Wellstar Paulding Hospital was designated a Level IV Trauma Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Level IV Trauma Centers demonstrate the ability to provide advanced trauma life support prior to transfer of patients to a higher-level trauma center when necessary. This added community resource was made possible by gifts to the Wellstar Foundation from generous members of the community like Ms. Waldrop. In 2018, she also made a substantial contribution to the hospital’s new infusion center, aptly named the Imogene Walraven Waldrop & Charles W. Waldrop Infusion Center. The 2,860-square-foot facility provides patients undergoing cancer and other medical treatments with world-class care conveniently located within their community.
“After witnessing both my brother and sister having to travel long distances to receive cancer care, I realized how critical it was to have these resources in Paulding,” Ms. Waldrop said. “Through the Infusion Center and now the Trauma Center, Wellstar is making leading-edge healthcare available to people when and where they need it most – that’s something I’m happy to be a part of.”
Ms. Waldrop’s donations to the Foundation were made through planned gifts, which allow donors the flexibility of contributing to the causes most meaningful to them while supporting their financial goals and creating a long-lasting legacy.
“I have enjoyed working with the Foundation and take pride in knowing that 100 percent of my gift will stay right here in Paulding,” said Ms. Waldrop. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to make a difference in my community that will benefit people now and the generations to come.”
The Wellstar Foundation is grateful to Ms. Waldrop for her dedicated partnership and philanthropic support. Through the generosity of corporations, organizations and individuals like Ms. Waldrop, the Foundation is addressing Georgia’s most pressing challenges through a strategic focus on health equity, behavioral health, innovation and workforce development. To learn more about the Foundation’s strategic initiatives or to discuss whether a planned gift may be right for you and your family, visit wellstar.org/foundation or email [email protected].