COLUMBIA, Tenn. — The Maury Regional Health Care Foundation partnered with Parker’s Project in June for the program’s third annual fundraiser to raise more than $4,200 for newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC).
Local educators Cord and Sondra Martin established Parker’s Project in 2017 through the Foundation after their son Parker spent 31 days in MRMC’s NICU following his premature birth. Shortly after the family and Parker returned home, the Martins created the Parker’s Project program to provide books to NICU families to promote bonding and development.
“As educators, Cord and Sondra Martin know the power that reading to children has through voice recognition and stimulation,” said Foundation Executive Director Joe Kilgore. “They have taken their own experience as the parents of a premature infant to help other families whose babies require an extended stay in the NICU. We are grateful to them and honored to partner with them on this meaningful endeavor.”
The annual fundraiser, which sold out, took place at Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant in downtown Columbia and featured music performed by the Jason Eskridge Band and Cord Martin.
Listerhill Credit Union served as the presenting sponsor for the event with additional sponsors including Beck Dental, B’s Tees, Bug Out, Clemmie Grace Designs, Duck River Books, the Jason Eskridge Band, Dr. Jeff and Tina Adams, McDonald’s of Maury County, Michelle Lamont Photography and Puckett’s of Columbia.
Gifts to support Parker’s Project may be made through the Foundation’s NICU Fund at MauryRegionalFoundation.com. Call 931.380.4075 for more information.
Photo: Pictured (l-r) are Cord, Parker and Sondra Martin on stage at Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant during the annual Parker’s Project fundraiser. Photo by Michelle Lamont Photography.