NEWS | GERALD T. PARKS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
FOUNDATION ACHIEVES 501 (c) (3) STATUS/BEGINS LOCAL CAMPAIGN
For Immediate Release:
PR Contact - Glenn Fishkin (704) 846-7927 Charlotte, North Carolina
Gerald T. Parks Memorial Foundation achieves 501 (c) (3) status/begins local campaign
Co-Chairpersons, Terri Pendleton and David Broadaway, announced on July 26, 2007 the Gerald T. Parks Memorial
Foundation has been granted 501(c) (3) status from the IRS. The Foundation was created in May 2007 in memory of
Mrs. Pendleton and Mr. Broadaway's father, Gerald T. Parks, retired Chief Petty Officer, who passed away in
February 2006 from lung cancer. The organization's mission is to raise funds for the repair and development of
military healthcare facilities, as well as other needs, such as transportation for veteran's to and from needed
hospital visits.
"We are excited to have achieved non-profit status and are ready to get moving very quickly raising funds so we
can help our deserving veteran's" stated Mrs. Pendleton.
"There are many needs across the nation to be addressed, but we want to start with a local campaign in the
Carolinas since our father was born and raised in Fort Mill, SC," added Mr. Broadaway.
Mrs. Pendleton and Mr. Broadaway have contacted Dorn VA Hospital in Columbia, SC as well as the Rock Hill
Community Outpatient Clinic in South Carolina to determine what their most immediate needs are. Some of the
needs mentioned are: furnishings for the nursing home at Dorn VA [Creamer, Priscilla S.] Medical Center, gas
cards for both locations, and care packages in Rock Hill. However, the greatest need mentioned is transportation
for elderly and/or disabled veteran's that visit the clinic in Rock Hill.
"Sadly, many of our veterans go untreated because they have no way of getting to and from the clinic," said Pam
Whitaker, Social Worker, Rock Hill Veteran's Community Outpatient Clinic. "These veterans are coming from
Charlotte, NC, Monroe, NC, Waxhaw, NC, Shelby, NC, Gastonia, NC, just to name a few."
"We are in the process of refurnishing our Nursing Home Care Unit the facility will be renamed Veterans Community
Living Care" said Ms. Creamer, Public Affairs Officer at Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia. "We are hoping to
make this unit as home like as possible with non institutional furnishings. Donations to this project would be
most welcome".
"As citizens who enjoy the freedoms our brave veterans have unselfishly provided and protected, it is our
responsibility to assist them with their needs," added Mrs. Pendleton.
The Foundation is raising money through donations, and through the sale of various patriotic products. The
organization will also be sponsoring a charitable golf tournament in October 2007, to raise money for the needs
described above.
All profits will go into the fund as there are no salaries - all working on the foundation are volunteers.
For more information please contact us
«BACK TO NEWS ITEMS