Donations Piling Up for Forsyth County Ambulance

Forsyth County children are $5,000 closer to having a dedicated pediatric ambulance. The donation comes from Hansgrohe, an international faucet & shower manufacturer whose American headquarters is based in Alpharetta.

“We first heard about the need during Children’s Healthcare of Forsyth's grand opening,” said Hansgrohe president Russ Wheeler. “We started talking about how we could help, and looking at what we do each year."

Wheeler said one of those things has been mailing a corporate holiday card. The company made the decision to forgo sending the Christmas cards and instead donate the savings to the ambulance fund.

“We can do an e-card. It’s more environmentally friendly, and we can give back to the community at the same time,” said Wheeler.

Beth Buursema, community outreach liaison for CHOA, said Forsyth County has stepped up to the challenge in giving donations for the ambulance, which will cost more than a million dollars. Among the donations:

• $360,000 from Tommy & Chantal Bagwell at American Proteins
• $2,500 from Sawnee Woman’s Club
• $1,900 from Peachtree Court Subdivision
• $1,700 from Cumming Elementary School

Hansgrohe’s contribution brings the ambulance fund total to more than $500,000. All donations are appreciated and they come from the heart.

“I had a girl give me pictures, letters and $19.76 in a Ziploc baggie that she raised with her lemonade stand," Buursema said. "The community has just been incredible.”

According to Buursema, the community has responded because they see the great need.

“This is extremely important. Our [current] ambulance isn’t in Forsyth full time.  It gets called all over the state. We’re raising funds to keep a dedicated one in Forsyth because we want to ensure the children in our community will have full access to this ambulance when they need it,” she said

And when it comes to children that emergency care need isn’t an “If” scenario.

“It’s a ‘when’ and it can happen in an instant. You don’t think you’re ever gonna need this—you pray you won’t need this, but parents come by at events and say this ambulance, this team, saved my child’s life. We woke up with a healthy child in the morning, and in the evening we were being transported to the hospital,” Buursema added.

Wheeler can attest to that firsthand.

“Let’s just say we’re already a client [of CHOA]. My son had a concussion this year in football so we’ve already taken advantage of the facilities," he said. "It’s good to have them nearby. We want to be part of this community, and we just felt like [the donation] is the right thing to do.”