Tony and Leah Lowery have “giving back” written on their hearts and in their minds. It’s part of their DNA as a couple and as individuals. As they explain, “we believe the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in helping others. It is in our hearts… it’s who we are.”
As long-time volunteers for several charitable causes in Charlotte, the Lowerys have also made giving back to the medical community through Carolinas HealthCare Foundation a priority in their lives.
Tony and Leah have been particularly involved in events benefiting Levine Children’s Hospital, such the “Play Anything Day” radiothon with KISS 95.1FM; the inaugural “Kids Rock!” Gala; the Levine JCC Kids Triathlon; and Levine Children’s Hospital’s leading fundraising event—Hopebuilders.
Cancer has also impacted close friends of the couple, making giving back to support Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) a priority in their lives. In recent years, Tony and Leah have supported the Stiletto Sprint, a key fundraising initiative for the Carolinas Ovarian Cancer Fund at LCI. After a dear friend of the couple was diagnosed with stage 4 appendiceal cancer, the Lowerys were inspired to volunteer for the P Strong Gala, which raises funds to support research at Levine Cancer Institute for rare and complex cancers.
The couple’s volunteerism goes beyond the hospital walls. Leah also volunteers at the Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Southminster and visits patients in their homes and at nursing home facilities. Tony also serves at Hospice as an administrative volunteer and handyman; they both work at Hospice fundraising events whenever they can.
Tony and Leah are a Carolinas HealthCare System family, with close family members who’ve studied and worked for many years at Carolinas Medical Center. Leah herself has been a Carolinas HealthCare System teammate for 19 years, and says, “There is no place I’d rather be working or for our families’ health care needs.” Tony and Leah say they love giving to others together, because “we are ONE just like we are ONE with CHS.”
The Lowerys central message to anyone considering becoming a volunteer, they say, is that “they will find the greatest joy in life by helping others.” Leah says she never truly knew herself until she started volunteering.
As the couple explained, “We believe that there is always someone that needs someone else or that can use a ‘hand up’, a listening ear, or just someone to care. We believe that people are here on earth to help and love one another and that’s what we try to do for others if we can, in any small way we can.”
Leah says, “If I could give a message of encouragement and hope to patients, it would be this: Always know there are people out there that care. There are many angels among us, sometimes they are just behind the scenes. The reason [Tony and I] volunteer is because we love helping other people. We do not have a lot of money to donate…but we do have our time, whatever skills we have to offer, compassion, and a passion to help others. We love to do what we can, any chance we have.”
We are grateful to Tony and Leah for the many years they have supported patients and healthcare providers across Carolinas HealthCare System through their dedication and compassion. They continue to be a model of generosity and an inspiration to us all.