Community Member Honors Family With Planned Gift to Wellstar Paulding Hospital

Imogene: During the 2018 WellStar Starlight Grand Gala, Imogene Walraven Waldrop was presented with the Luminary Award: Philanthropist of the Year.

I was born and raised in Paulding County so I have a deep appreciation for this community. My husband had a career in the U.S. Air Force and his work took us around the world. When he passed away, I moved back to Paulding County to be closer to family and friends. A few years later, I was introduced to Gene Weeks with the WellStar Foundation. I expressed to Gene that making a difference in my community was very important to me. Together, we toured WellStar Paulding Hospital where he showed me the infusion center and the need for a larger facility to better accommodate patients. As soon as I learned of this need, I knew I wanted to help.

When my brother, Bobby, and sister, Doris, battled cancer, I recall the long distances they had to travel to receive treatment. Often times, someone would have to go with them because they were too weak to drive themselves back home. Not only was my family personally impacted by cancer, but many friends I grew up with also passed away from cancer. I have since discovered that cancer rates are above the state average in Paulding County.

There were several worthy causes in which I was interested in contributing; but it came down to determining where my contribution would make the biggest impact. When I learned that 100 percent of my donation would benefit the infusion center at Paulding Hospital, WellStar made the top of the list. After meeting with my financial advisor, I decided to leave a life estate reserved gift to the WellStar Foundation that would be used to fund the new infusion center.

Since sharing this information with WellStar, they have kept me informed of the project's progress, I have met many members of WellStar's leadership team, and I was even invited to attend the 2018 WellStar Starlight Grand Gala where I was honored as Luminary Philanthropist of the Year.

I am hopeful the Imogene Walraven Waldrop & Charles W. Waldrop Infusion Center will make a difference in the lives of thousands of Paulding residents. I am grateful for the opportunity to give and am appreciative of the friendships that I've developed with so many individuals at WellStar.