OMH Breast Care Center receives Donation from Lake Keowee Dealerships

Thursday afternoon, Nov. 8, 2018, Lake Keowee Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Lake Keowee Ford Operating Partner and General Manager Mark Williams presented a $27,800 check to the Oconee Memorial Hospital (OMH) Foundation for the Breast Care Center. “Year over year that we can make that increase and then pay it forward to the community, words can’t explain it. Our dealerships cane come together and bond like that and raise money for a good cause and be able to prevent it and have these ladies be a step ahead of it is our pleasure.” Last year the dealerships donated over $24,000. The Breast Care Center is near and dear to his heart as both his mother and sister are breast cancer survivors. JJ Thomas, Lead Imaging Technologist for the Breast Care Center was extremely grateful for the generous donation. “Two years ago, we were looking at buying new biopsy equipment just to get an updated system and Mark’s donation gave us the money to do that. Then last year, we were trying to get 3D mammography into Oconee County and we had multiple sources give us money and we were raising the money and Mark’s donation put us over the limit to get the PO cut to get that system ordered and get it on the way. So, he has really improved the Breast Care services on two areas; on the daily screening workload and also on the biopsies. This year, we’re hoping to expand the services that we provide to women, who are coming into our Breast Center who have already had cancer diagnosis who need patient navigation along that bumpy journey.” Lake Keowee Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Lake Keowee Ford pledged to donate $100 for each vehicle sold in October to the Breast Care Center. This pledge was made in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in an effort to support neighbors who are currently battling breast cancer. Hunter Kome, President of the Oconee Medical Campus of the Greenville Health System, was also overwhelmed by the donation. “Mark it is incredible what he has done for us over the years and these dealerships, there is nothing like it. The commitment that his whole team has, that he personally has to raising this money to support women with breast cancer makes a huge difference for women in our community. It’s help pay for new technology, we just implemented 3D mammography, its help pay for services, we’re going to be implementing a navigator program. So, it is making a real difference right here in our community.” Cortni Nations, Manager of the OMH Foundation, said Mark and his staff go above and beyond every year for the Breast Care Center. “Every year it just gets bigger and bigger. Mark and his team just have a huge heart for giving back and paying it forward and we are so grateful for this donation. Its done so much over the years for our Breast Care Center, for patients with breast cancer, its provided easier access to care, new equipment and now new services. We are just thrilled that they are choosing to give back right here in our community.” Since 2012, Lake Keowee Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Lake Keowee Ford have donated close to $80,000 to the Breast Care Center at OMH.