Established in 1987, the East Alabama Medical Center Foundation was created to provide for the continued support of the mission of East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC).
The first project, funded through the Foundation in 1987 was a feeding room where new mothers could return to the hospital to feed their hospitalized infants. The Lee County Medical Auxiliary contributed to this project with a $1,600 donation.
Over the years, many projects and improvements have been funded by the community through the EAMC Foundation, including:
- The Buck Rice Memorial Chapel
- A major renovation of the Pediatric Unit in 1988 (made possible with the support of more than 1,000 donors who raised $125,000)
- The construction of the Cancer Center, which opened in 1992
- A grant to help with the establishment of Mercy Medical Center (the area’s free health clinic, located in Auburn) in 2001
- The construction of Bethany House, the state's first freestanding inpatient hospice facility, which opened in 2000.
- Foundation grant programs to fund community outreach efforts involving Unity Wellness Center (formerly AIDS Outreach of EAMC), the Diabetes and Nutrition Center, HealthPlus Fitness Center, the EAMC Parish Nurse Program, the Cancer Center, and Lifeline Personal Emergency Response System. These programs were then able to provide much-needed services to those in our community with limited healthcare resources.