Stories of Hope

Paula and Robert Boykin were among the first to step forward as philanthropic partners of Atrium Health Lake Norman....

A $40,000 gift from the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc. provided the seed funding to launch the pilot in fall 2025 for students at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ Metro School....

Recently retired as CEO of Barings, Tom Finke was planning new business ventures, traveling with family, and staying deeply engaged in the community as co-chair of Atrium Health Foundation’s Giving Hope campaign. The last thing on his mind was a health scare. In walked a huge dose of reality at his routine physical when his doctor expressed concern over his...

With $10 million invested since 2019, the William, Jeff & Jennifer Gross Family Foundation continues to shape the future of heart and cancer care   CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 12, 2026 – Atrium Health Foundation is expanding its partnership with the California-based William, Jeff & Jennifer Gross Family Foundation, which has committed $2 million to advance clinical research and care innovation at Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute and Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute. Since 2019, the foundation has donated $10 million to Atrium Health.  Founded by renowned investor...

Atrium Health Foundation was recently awarded over $3.2 million from The Duke Endowment through four grants that will significantly advance Atrium Health’s commitments to uplifting the communities it serves. The funding will enhance cancer care in rural communities, create new pathways for students to pursue careers in healthcare and improve access to comprehensive behavioral health through school-based telehealth services in rural and high-need communities. ...

Shortly before her first birthday, Ellie experienced her first seizure while on vacation. Within a week, she was taken to two hospitals before being airlifted to Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. After a series of tests, Ellie was diagnosed with epilepsy, a neurological disorder that affects nerve cells in the central nervous system and can cause recurrent seizures, including loss of...

Mike Thompson was a believer in people and in possibilities. “And with Mike,” says his wife, Michelle, “if he believed, you just believed it too. With all of your heart and soul.” That belief carried him through three years of treatment for Stage 4 colorectal cancer, and it continues to inspire his family today. Known for his kindness, humor, and relentless...

Gift of gratitude honors life of Barbara Killian CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 21, 2024 – A $2 million donation to Atrium Health Foundation’s Giving Hope campaign will honor the life of Barbara Killian, a former patient at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute. The gift from her husband, John Killian, acknowledges his late wife’s thoracic oncology care team and will provide support for patients facing a...

Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center has marked a milestone in the construction of a new advanced care facility at the health system’s flagship hospital in Charlotte, N.C. A topping out ceremony was held Tuesday to celebrate progress on the new advanced care facility, while recognizing the hundreds of construction workers and teammates for their unwavering dedication to our community. “This...

On November 2, Atrium Health Foundation hosted the 29th Annual Hopebuilders 5K, presented by Morris-Jenkins. The event drew over 750 participants, uniting corporate sponsors, competitive runners, families, and care teams in a shared mission to honor the special children in their lives. Together, the dedicated community raised $135,000 (and counting) for Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital, showcasing their deep commitment to the health and well-being of...

The Atrium Health family celebrates the life and legacy of James E.S. Hynes – a man who defined the model of character and will be forever interwoven in the fabric of our health system. He will always be remembered as the “historic glue” of board leadership, beloved mentor, and most of all – a dear friend to Atrium Heath.  Jim’s...

Now, Dr. Mary Hall has added “philanthropist’” to her list of accolades, following a major gift that she and her husband, Dr. David Hall, made in support of family medicine at Atrium Health. Hall retired in June 2024 after 37 years of distinguished service including as Atrium Health’s senior vice president of medical education and chief academic officer. Longtime champions...