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Garden Jubilee
raises
$100,000 for scholarships
FOUNDATION
Scholarship recipients
Emily Robertson (left)
and Bailey Matthews
(center), pictured
with Kenneth
Vandervoort, MD
ON MAY 13,
community
members and leaders gathered
to celebrate the inaugural Martha
Vandervoort Garden Jubilee, held
at the Longleaf Botanical Gardens
in Anniston. The generosity of
attendees and donors surpassed
the event goal of $60,000, raising
more than $100,000.
Proceeds benefit the Martha
Vandervoort Memorial Scholarship
Fund, created to honor the life
and legacy of longtime Anniston
resident and philanthropist Martha
Vandervoort. The annual Garden
Jubilee will award a renewable $6,000
scholarship each year for a graduating
high school senior in Calhoun County.
“Martha’s most valuable gift
was investing in people in our
community,” says Lagina Fillingim,
Regional Medical Center Foundation’s
executive director. “She recognized
pure qualities in others, particularly
those with a servant’s heart. This is a
way for us to honor her legacy.”
To be eligible, students must
maintain a GPA of at least 3.0,
demonstrate a financial need and
reflect the embodiment of charity.
This year, because of the event’s
enormous success, two deserving
high school seniors received
scholarships for their college
educations. Bailey Matthews, Oxford
High School senior, was awarded a
full scholarship; and Emily Robertson,
also of Oxford High School, received
a partial scholarship.
“More than 400 people came
together to celebrate a wonderful,
compassionate pillar of our
community, and we are truly
overwhelmed by their enthusiasm
and generosity,” says Glea Sarrell,
chairman of the RMC Foundation
Board. “To witness the overwhelming
support for this inaugural event
speaks to the unselfish nature that is
so evident in our local community.”
Regional Medical Center
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