A Christmas Gift For Franklin County
12/21/2012
Ferrum College President Jennifer Braaten announces a $1 million gift to the Free Clinic of Franklin County from Guy and Betty Beatty.
Ferrum, Va. (December 21, 2012) – The partnership between Ferrum College and Franklin County is now even stronger thanks to a $1 million gift to the Free Clinic of Franklin County from philanthropist Guy E. Beatty and his wife, Betty. Beatty, a longtime friend of Ferrum College president Jennifer Braaten, is founder and chair of The Beatty Companies, headquartered in northern Virginia.
In the true fashion of the Ferrum College motto, “Not Self, But Others,” Dr. Braaten notes that the kindness and extraordinary generosity of Guy and Betty Beatty will be transformative for the residents of Franklin County. Mr. Beatty is a supporter of Ferrum College and benefactor to the Virginia College Fund, of which Ferrum is a founding member. He and Dr. Braaten have been in conversation for the last five years regarding the possibility of bringing a clinic to the area. “Our community will benefit for years to come through Guy’s desire to share his blessings with us,” said Braaten. “It is a great privilege for me to have worked with him to secure this tremendous gift for those in need of quality health care in Franklin County.”
As a successful entrepreneur, Beatty has personally been responsible for the development of 40 companies in fields that include real estate development, music, and entertainment. Beatty’s charitable intentions are manifested in various rural communities within the United States as well as in Africa, Costa Rica, and other locales around the world. His vision is to provide access to quality healthcare to those who have little or no access to such services. It is his belief that the care should be provided in the context of an attractive environment and in a setting that reflects compassion, service and quality.
The Free Clinic, a 501©3 organization established in 1992 in one room of the STEP Building in Rocky Mount, will use the funds to build a new 7,100 square foot facility to expand health care services for residents of Franklin County. The Clinic has begun preliminary discussions with Mod-U-Kraf, a modular housing company located in Rocky Mount, Virginia, for the design of the facility. Ferrum College’s two newest residence halls, Clark Hall and Dyer Hall, were constructed by Mod-U-Kraf.
Since the clinic’s inception it has grown into a full-time operation supported by a small core of employees and a large number of volunteers. The Free Clinic receives no federal funds, nor does it charge for services. Through partnerships with the Virginia Association of Free Clinics, Rx Partnership Foundation, Virginia Health Care Foundation, United Way, Carilion, local churches and other agencies, the clinic is able to offer quality health care at a substantially reduced cost. The Clinic relies heavily on volunteer physicians and community donations to provide its services. In 2012 The Free Clinic of Franklin County assisted over 2,200 patients.
“Franklin County has one of Virginia’s highest uninsured populations (18.5% - over 10,800 people),” says Lois Macdonald, Executive Director of the Free Clinic. “Through the generosity of Guy and Betty Beatty the expansion of our clinic will allow the center to accommodate at least 5,000 patients each year. We are grateful for the support of the community and, especially for the assistance of Jennifer Braaten, President of Ferrum College, whose intercession was vital in the completion of this partnership to expand primary care services in Franklin County.”
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