By Stephen Smoot
As a long, cold, and bitter winter comes apparently, or hopefully, to its completion, community health care and economic development leaders gathered in Baker. They came to celebrate the breaking of ground on a new E. A. Hawse community center for both physical recreation and also education.
Last Friday, 60 degree temperatures with a still winterish breeze greeted those assembled. Mike Funkhouser, a Board member for E. A. Hawse, offered an invocation. The approximately two dozen who came formed a prayer circle and linked hands as he asked “a blessing for many years to come.”
Then, Melissa Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of E. A. Hawse Health Center, greeted those who had gathered for the event. She stated that “I’m excited to get this going and then start the project across the street” and called the center “community level change that’s occurring” Thompson then added thanks for “our board members moving forward and doing good things for the community.”
Chief Financial Officer Chris Hahn also shared his thoughts, saying “I was born and raised here” then added it was a “dream to me to have a place where everyone can go.”
The coming facility plays a role not before seen in the E. A. Hawse Health system. It houses multiple classrooms designed for art, but that could serve other capacities. A full sized basketball gymnasium can accommodate one game on the main floor or two simultaneously and side by side. Outdoor sports facilities will also provide places where teams can practice and compete or children can play on their own. While the school system has outstanding facilities, time with them is a limited resource.
Hahn added that children are the secret to the facility’s success. “If we can get kids here, we can get adults here.” Fred Brooks, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer for Capon Valley Bank, shared that he had grandchildren attending East Hardy and that “this is very much needed” to expand youth recreation opportunities.
One of the important aspects of the center and its role in area health care lies in preventative medicine. Children who go will develop the habits of active adults. Adults can also find workout facilities, a walking track around the inside wall, and other ways to get more active and gain more health.
Also behind the project and standing side by side with locals who transformed the dream into a coming reality is a generous donor who bankrolled the cost of the facility. MacKenzie Scott “is an American novelist, philanthropist, and an early contributor to Amazon,” according to her online biography. At one time, she was also married to corporate owner Jeff Bezos.
As Rohrbaugh explained, “we saw an article on her philanthropy for non-profits. We went online to her foundation and requested $1 million.” Scott examined the project, carefully vetted E. A. Hawse executives, then responded that $1 million would not cover the cost. She sent $4.2 million instead.
“You should have heard the bank when the wire came in!”, Rohrbaugh said.
Thompson then spoke to explain that former E. A. Hawse CEO Gary Johnson, whom she replaced eight years ago, “told me to keep the Health Center going and to keep the status quo.” Within those guidelines, Thompson has maintained the high quality service that built the center’s reputation while expanding into new fields. Her strategy? “Put it on paper and make it happen.”
Hardy County Commission President Steven Schetrom stated “it’s a great thing. It’s a great thing for E. A. Hawse. It’s a great thing for Baker. Congratulations to you guys for what you have been able to do here.”
