We did it! After over 5 years of planning, $10.3 million raised and over two years of construction, the ribbon has been cut and the 36 rooms of our new Pine Wing are ready to welcome guests in just a few short weeks!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this exciting celebration, and we certainly missed each of you who was unable to attend. We are grateful for all of your support to make this expansion possible. It was a beautiful afternoon for the occasion underneath Carolina blue skies and sunshine. 

There are many, many individuals and organizations who poured their hearts into this expansion to enable us to serve twice as many guests. It is overwhelming to look at all of the generous donors who gave to our Share the House campaign to build the Pine Wing.   Thank you, thank you, thank you to every single person who supported our expansion.  

Various organizations and groups were represented in Wednesday’s program, and we extend our sincerest thanks to Mary Beck, Chair of the SECU Family House Land & Building Committee, Town of Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger, Janet Hadar, President of UNC Hospitals, Jama Campbell, Executive Director of the SECU Foundation, Family House Board Member and VP of Marketing and Community Engagement for Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, Reagan Greene Pruitt, and our project manager and Owner’s Representative for the construction of the Pine Wing, Bruce Ballentine, for leading our ceremony, along with our outstanding Executive Director, Janice McAdams, who led Family House through the campaign and construction process. Joining these leaders to cut the ribbon included: Campaign Co-Chairs Matt Ewend, MD and Bob & Becky Woodruff, Glenn Kistler of JD Beam, Brian Maxwell of MHAworks, Charles & Patsy Harrison representing our incredible Family House volunteers, Martha Aldridge, Family House Director of Development, and Jan Ross, Director of House Operations.

The Pine Wing would not have been possible without our excellent and dedicated Board Leadership throughout this extended campaign.  Thank you to past and current Board Chairs, Matt Ewend, MD, Ian Buchanan, MD and Jay Patel, along with our entire Board of Directors, for your commitment, wisdom, guidance and leadership over the past six years as we planned, built, and now prepare to grow!

Finally, we must recognize and thank our campaign Leadership Committee: Matt Ewend, MD, Maureen O’Connor, and Bob & Becky Woodruff, who inspired, guided and led our Share the House campaign from start to finish, as well as our friends at Moss + Ross, who helped to create the vision and roadmap for this $10.3 million campaign.

Every single person present on Wednesday, along with so many who weren’t able to join,  played a role in the Pine Wing, and we look forward to honoring your lasting impact on Family House and its guests for years to come.  Each time we are able to welcome a guest rather than refer them to a partnering hotel will be one more family who won’t have to bear the burden of finding a safe, affordable and nurturing place to stay as they seek world-class medical care at UNC Health.  From our Family House family to yours, we extend our heartfelt gratitude.