Our donors

Larry McNeill is proud to be a member of the fifth generation of the McNeill family born in either Hoke or Moore County; Mr. McNeill is a Raeford, North Carolina native. He completed his undergraduate degree at Davidson College in North Carolina. After graduation he received his ROTC commission and was soon stationed at Fort Benning in Georgia and later at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. After his discharge from the army Larry began teaching English as well as coaching golf and basketball at Dreher High School in Columbia, SC. He soon completed his Masters Degree in English, and returned to

Drs. Gary and Marcia Krasicky have been residents of the Sandhills since 2005, having moved here in retirement from their medical professions in the Washington, DC area. Marcia completed a 26 year career in the Navy, serving in the Medical Service Corps as an Optometrist. Gary retired from Fairfax Radiological Consultants as the Chief of Nuclear Medicine at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Marcia’s parents, Ardes and Willis Walz, were advocates of higher education, and instilled in their children the values of life-long learning. Marcia and Gary have established The Walz Family Scholarship in honor

Longtime Pinehurst residents Drs. John and Nancy Ellis have regularly displayed their willingness to assist others in their educational pursuits. A pioneer in First Health’s Department of Orthopedics, John Ellis arrived in Pinehurst in 1973 and began practicing medicine. Surgeons from Japan, Korea, Canada, Europe and all over the U.S. came to Pinehurst to learn from him and witness his accomplishments in joint replacement. Today, First Health has one of the largest joint replacement programs in North Carolina, and boasts one of the highest success rates in the nation. Nancy Ellis has worked

The humble beginnings of Emmet Logan’s life led him to develop an early sense of stewardship. Mr. Logan’s family’s financial circumstances meant there was no money for college, but the benefaction of an uncle who had lost his eldest son made educational opportunities available. From his youth in Jersey City to his eventual career as an executive for United Parcel Service, Mr. Logan has always looked for ways to help those less fortunate than he. Emmet Logan’s mother always instructed him to “make books his friends,” and Mr. Logan has maintained a lifelong love of reading because of those

After growing up in Nebraska and leaving the Dust Bowl stricken family farm to start over in Chicago, Eula Isom’s curiosity has taken her all over the world. She is 103 and she stays active, playing bridge and exercising regularly, to keep going. “I’m amazed and have been for several years let’s say, that I’m here, and wonder why. I think it’s unbelievable how I feel and what I can do.” Photo credit courtesy of The Pilot: http://www.thepilot.com/news/living-through/article_13e655d8-6f42-11e3-81fc-001a4bcf6878.html Eula and her sons, Preston and Steve, created the Winfred R. Isom Memorial

Eva Barber Dowd was a caregiver in the truest sense of the word. Born in Moore County near Carthage, she grew up with a deep connection to the land and her family, both remaining close to her heart all her life. This affection led her to a career in nursing. Her training as a registered nurse brought hope and healing to her patients, first at Moore County Hospital (now Moore Regional), and later working with private clients and family. After marrying Henry Dowd, the manager of C. Louis Meyer farm and nursery, she turned her nurturing gifts to horticulture. Many homes in the Sandhills still

Felton Capel is regarded in Moore County as a well respected individual known for breaking barriers. After his election to the Southern Pines Town Council in 1959, he worked diligently with his friend and former Southern Pines Mayor Voit Gilmore to integrate the area’s theaters, golf courses and hotels. Later he became the first African American to join the Moore County Rotary Club. He cites his biggest thrill as witnessing his two grandsons each being recruited by UNC -Chapel Hill former basketball coach Dean Smith and Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski. His success as a small

A common love of classical music and a fascinating life abroad characterized the union of Fred and Cornelia Bentley. After serving in WWII , Fred was appointed the post-war responsibility of transferring all demilitarized American equipment to the Germans as part of the Marshall Plan to stimulate the German economy. A stint in Berlin with the U.S. State Department brought Cornelia to Germany, and her introduction to Fred came during a vacation in Munich. The discovery of their joint affection for classical music led to a courtship, followed by a Parisian marriage and a honeymoon on the

When nurse Ann Albert passed away in 2002, her colleagues at First Health chose to establish a memorial for her with a scholarship for nursing students at Sandhills Community College. Albert’s commitment to nursing was impressive. Her dedication to the vocation was evidenced by her continuation to work, despite enduring chemotherapy. After graduating from Forsyth Hospital, she began her career as a labor and delivery nurse in 1972 at Moore Memorial Hospital, later renamed First Health. She eventually became the hospital’s head nurse in labor and delivery, ending her tenure as the operating