This past Friday, Chief Executive Officer Phillip Wright, of Haywood Regional Medical Center, presented a check to the principals of local middle schools and high schools in Haywood County.  Pisgah and Tuscola High Schools each received a donation of $5,000, while Bethel, Canton, and Waynesville Middle Schools each received a donation of $1,000.

“We want to be in a closer partnership with the schools in Haywood County,” said Mr. Wright, who, accompanied by Haywood County Schools Superintendent Dr. Anne Garrett and Mark Sheppard from Academic Support Services, visited with each of the schools’ principals to personally deliver the hospital’s generous support.

Principal Todd Barbee, of Canton Middle School, was elated to receive the check for his school.  “This will help us so much to fund our new ‘Lunch and Learn’ program!” he said.  “We are going to have special lunches with our students, where we bring in professionals who can show our kids the value of middle school academics.  We want them to see the connections between their academics and the professional world so they can get on the right college and career path with the classes they pick – from now all the way through high school.”

Without a doubt, the generosity of Haywood Regional Medical Center will be making an immediate impact in Haywood County Schools.

Submitted by:  Bill Hunt, Canton Middle School