Atlanta Gas Light Foundation helps Wellstar’s youngest patients grow and thrive

In its continued commitment to helping local families recover and rebuild after Hurricane Helene, the Atlanta Gas Light Foundation has donated $200,000 to Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia.

Story Highlights:

• The Atlanta Gas Light Foundation is making possible the purchase of three Bunnell jet ventilators for the Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia in support of post‑Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
• The funding will expand capacity from one to four units. The new ventilators will enhance care for premature and critically ill infants from Georgia and South Carolina.
• As a Level IV trauma center, the hospital plays a critical role during disasters like Hurricane Helene.

The donation will expand Wellstar’s ability to provide world-class care to premature babies from Georgia and South Carolina who need specialized, critical support. Funding will be used to purchase three additional Bunnell jet ventilators for the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Currently, the children’s hospital only has one of these ventilators.

“These ventilators represent the latest advancement in technology and in how we deliver care to our smallest and sickest infants,” said Valera L. Hudson, M.D., pediatrician‑in‑chief at the children’s hospital. “With the support of organizations such as Atlanta Gas Light and its foundation, we are grateful to continue serving this community as the second‑largest children’s hospital in the state — and the only one outside Atlanta able to provide the highest level of care to Georgia’s most critically ill and complex childhood conditions.”

As a Level IV trauma center, the hospital operates the region’s highest‑level NICU and offers some of the most advanced technology and clinical expertise in the Southeast. During natural disasters such as Helene, this level of care becomes even more crucial, as children are among the most vulnerable populations and rely on timely access to lifesaving resources.

“In preparation for Hurricane Helene and throughout its aftermath, our team members — many of whom were personally affected — worked together to maintain our operations and ultimately support the Augusta region’s recovery,” said Dean Marianos, vice president of operations at Atlanta Gas Light. “They donated resources, volunteered their time and supported community partners like Wellstar Children’s Hospital to help families recover. Seeing the dedication of the staff and the resilience of the children they care for truly shows the impact we’re making as a company and a foundation.”

This gift is part of a long-term commitment to hurricane relief led by the Southern Company system’s charitable foundations. In 2024, they collectively agreed to donate $3 million to aid Hurricane Helene response, including a $500,000 pledge toward recovery efforts from the Atlanta Gas Light Foundation.