A new donor garden and international work of public art was dedicated Sunday afternoon at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton.
Jack and Janice Frost, owners of Memorial Park Funeral Homes and Cemeteries, made a signature gift to The Medical Center Foundation to completely fund the garden and a maintenance endowment. The feature element of the garden is a one-of-a-kind, commissioned, marble fountain from China featuring intricate hand-carvings of northeast Georgia’s indigenous flora and four panels engraved with the inspirational words of Hope, Healing, Wellness and Peace.
“Jack and Janice have been giving back to the community for decades. Their fingerprints are everywhere,” said Carol Burrell, president and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System. “We are honored to recognize them not only for their generosity, but for a beautiful garden that becomes their legacy and benefits others for generations to come.”
Over the course of eight months while the fountain was being fabricated, Jack personally visited China twice to select the marble and inspect the project at key points. “That’s the thing about Jack, he’s hands on and very involved in anything he does,” remarked LeTrell Simpson, chair of The Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees, during the dedication. After the completion, the fountain was carefully placed into eleven large crates, shipped across the ocean to the ports of New York and Savannah and then transported to NGMC Braselton. The firms of H.G.O.R. and Fockele Garden Company worked in harmony to construct the fountain on site at the hospital and make the water garden come to life.
“To know Jack is to know his undeniable passion for collecting art from around the world,” said Simpson. “We are grateful for his vision to create this special destination and for Janice’s support. We are honored that they have entrusted their legacy to us and recognize the impact art, water and nature have in the healthcare setting.”
“Jack and Janice fully support The Medical Center Foundation’s vision to create a destination of hope, healing and wellness at NGMC Braselton,” said Nancy Colston, president of The Medical Center Foundation. “Because healing comes in many forms, NGMC embraces the use of therapeutic spaces to enhance traditional medicine in the healing process. The Jack and Janice Frost Water Garden is a wonderful example of how philanthropy totally funds such projects that would not be possible otherwise.”
