First Tee is a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, we create active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do. First Tee – Augusta helps kids discover what’s inside of them, guide them to strengthen it, and mentor them to put it into action in everything they do. First Tee – Augusta has spent 20 years building experiences that build character to empower kids through a lifetime of new challenges and continuous personal growth.  Experiences are our greatest teacher and First Tee believes in creating ones that are just as fun as they are meaningful, where kids feel excited to grow, safe to fail, and better equipped for whatever comes their way next. The First Tee – Augusta chapter is unique, and so are the young people and families served. First Tee – Augusta creates opportunities to hear, share and learn from the perspective of others, while empowering diverse voices to help shape and evolve the approach to build greater relevance for their work.  First Tee – Augusta is not about improving your golf score. It’s about strengthening what young people bring to everything they do, including golf.

The 12 Bands of Christmas combines the universal appeal of music with the universal spirit of giving to support the fight against pediatric cancer. 12 Bands promotes education and public support for the fight against pediatric cancer through the arts and entertainment by providing a recurring forum for the expression of music of all genres, providing charitable support to pediatric cancer research and other related pediatric cancer patient needs, and brings the healing power of music and direct support to families. The music of 12 Bands has provided “just in time” resources to families being cared for at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. In fact, their efforts have raised over a quarter of a million dollars to support families fighting pediatric cancer. As 12 Bands evolved, the organization became wholly focused on the often unknown, seldom discussed and frequently ignored needs of children and families facing life-threatening diagnoses. 12 Bands recognizes the many direct and basic needs families face when their child becomes ill. Thanks to dollars raised in the community through performances and donations, 12 Bands is able to help families in several basic aspects of daily living, while providing music therapy and music instruments to those in treatment.

The John W. Kelley MD Endowment at the Piedmont Augusta Foundation was created in  2008 to honor Dr. Kelley’s 28 years of service to our hospital and community as a talented cardiologist and mentor to many. He was the founder of the Harry T. Harper Jr., MD School of Cardiac and Vascular  Technology, which is a partnership with Augusta Technical College. This 15 month program has graduates working in hospitals across the region and nation, including our own hospital. The endowment named for Dr. Kelley supports the education of these technologists who work alongside cardiologists in our cath labs. The Harry T. Harper, Jr. M.D. School of Cardiac and Vascular Technology was founded in 1992 we will have 353 graduates through 2021 and with the added 14 this year (graduating in December) the total will be 367. The School also trains non invasive cardiac technologists who perform ultrasound and vascular ultrasound images. Funds donated to the Piedmont Augusta Foundation also support training for critical care cardiac nurses. We are able to provide high quality safe care thanks to Dr. Kelley’s legacy of supporting the training and education of these techs.