Medical Foundation's Nell Wiegand honored

GAINESVILLE - Nell Wiegand was honored Thursday night for her lifetime of service to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center and upon her retirement as chairwoman of the Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees. The foundation also celebrated completion of its Healthy Journey II campaign.

Wiegand became founding chair of the Foundation in 1986, when she noticed the skyrocketing costs of health care technology and diminishing reimbursements.

She will continue to serve the Foundation as chair emeritus.

Chairman of the Medical Center's Development Council, Woody Stewart, announced that Healthy Journey II surpassed its $10 million goal and nearly doubled it, raising more than $17 million.

Stewart surprised Wiegand with an announcement of a lead gift of $100,000 in her honor given by the Medical Center Auxiliary to the Foundation for enhanced cancer services.

Medical Center Foundation executive director Nancy Colston presented Wiegand with a gift of two gold filigree cranes engraved on a jade pendant, representing the Foundation's appreciation for her service, which began as a hospital volunteer when the facility first opened in 1951.

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