Supporting a healthy community

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Pinnacle Financial Partners makes contribution to help new mothers, seniors

This holiday season, Pinnacle Financial Partners wanted to help provide vital resources in the Thomasville community.

The bank donated $10,000 to the Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center Foundation to support community education programs at the Center for Health and Wellness. Specifically, the gift will support the Community Education Office, a branch of the center that will house ConnectionLink, a service and benefits program for seniors age 55 and above, and a baby café program.

This gift was the latest milestone in a longstanding relationship between Pinnacle and Novant Health Foundation, according to Angie Rubnich, office leader at Pinnacle’s Thomasville location on Julian Avenue. Rubnich was thrilled when Pinnacle made the donation.

“We desire to be an active, involved partner in supporting quality-of-life initiatives in the communities we serve,” Rubnich said. “Two of our four specific categories are health and human services, as well as education, so this investment is a perfect fit for us.”

Rubnich is most excited for the Baby Café, an existing Thomasville Medical Center program that moved to a virtual platform due to COVID-19. This community-based effort is free for new mothers and pairs them with professionals, fellow moms and parenting resources. Rubnich, a mother of three, experienced the impact of those resources firsthand as a patient at Thomasville Medical Center, where she received support and guidance from lactation consultant and Novant Health team member Lisa Miller.

“With my third child, I was having some difficulties,” Rubnich explained. “Being able to pick up the phone and call Lisa calmed me down. She gave me some great advice, and it gave me more confidence.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has made those needs even more pronounced. Families have become more isolated as quarantines and lockdowns have limited social gatherings. Seniors, a demographic that has been deemed high risk for complications stemming from COVID-19, have also suffered isolation and limited access to resources. That’s why Rubnich is grateful for Pinnacle’s continued support of the Thomasville community and Novant Health Foundation.

“Anytime we can be there to support Novant Health, we do our best,” Rubnich said.