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“Money can be spent easily, but with nothing to show for it. We can’t have that. We have this opportunity to change Western North Carolina for the better for everybody, and we have to do that. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
A kidney transplant in 1992 caused George Renfro to become more aware, and more involved, in the health care needs of his community. A former member of the Mission Health System board and current trustee of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, he says there’s nothing more rewarding than supporting institutions that touch the lives of so many people: “Truly, you can see you’re helping everybody by having a health system that provides care for everyone.”
George has lived all of his life in Western North Carolina, growing up in Yancey County and earning a degree in accounting from Mars Hill College. He worked his way up to partner at a local CPA firm, then joined one of his clients, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Affiliated Inc. as CFO, eventually becoming COO and co-owner.
Throughout his career he has also been heavily involved in serving the Western North Carolina community, including: Daniel Boone Council of Boy Scouts; United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County; Mars Hill College; UNCA Foundation; Community Foundation of Western North Carolina; North Carolina Kidney Foundation; Mission Hospital McDowell; Angel Medical Center; Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry; and the Vulnerable Care Task Force in both Buncombe and Macon County.
One of his proudest achievements is helping develop the campaign to build a neonatal intensive care unit at Mission Hospital.
“We’d bring people up to tour the facilities and sometimes the space was so tight, the incubators would have to be out in the hall,” recalls George. “Parents would have to make appointments to sit with their babies. Everyone saw and understood how important the need was for so many in the community, which is why we ended up raising $8 million instead of the $6 million we were seeking.”
George believes that same type of resourcefulness and generosity is needed to address the broader health needs of Western North Carolina.
“It’s going to take a lot of hard work and analyzing,” said George, “but we’ve got to do this right. Dogwood Health Trust is committed to setting goals and doing things that are measurable. Then when we accomplish what we set out to do, we can move those goals to higher levels.”
Address:
890 Hendersonville Rd
Asheville, NC 28803
Mailing:
890 Hendersonville Rd
Asheville, NC 28803
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Support programs and networks that reduce deaths, treat addiction, and prevent first use
Help reduce disparities based on race, location, education and income factors
Invest in integrated heath care with seamless connections to supportive services
Support communities that promote healthy living and resiliency and help mitigate the impact of trauma, isolation and stress on individuals and families, especially those experiencing poverty
Support a well-funded, sustainable, competitive entrepreneur and small business ecosystem throughout the region
Help build a regional economic ecosystem that supports increased creation/retention of jobs and business ownership
Help build a skilled workforce with the knowledge and technical abilities to excel in a wide range of industry employment opportunities that provide a competitive, sustainable wage
Source, analyze and share a comprehensive, county-by-county data set that paints a full picture of work readiness, economic development and entrepreneurial needs and opportunities specific to Western North Carolina
Work in tandem with Economic Opportunity Strategic Priority to invest in career readiness at the community college and university levels
Support K-12 learning experiences with the resources and sustainability to provide an excellent academic and social-emotional education, so that all students graduate ready for college or career
Invest in an improved early childhood education ecosystem with the resources and sustainability to provide developmentally appropriate, affordable and accessible education and care to support ages birth to five, so that all children in WNC enter kindergarten ready to learn
Source, analyze and share a comprehensive set of publicly available data that provides a regularly updated, county-by-county picture of access, workforce and student outcomes in early childhood education and K-12 education specific to Western North Carolina
Loans, guarantees, and other financial tools to leverage funding opportunities
Increase affordable housing for lowest-income individuals and families
Support age-appropriate resources in affordable and workforce units, rental and owned
Invest in housing with sustainable supports for physical and mental health and wellbeing
Support healthy and safe revitalizations that work against displacement and gentrification, preserve home ownership and create generational wealth.
