Serving as the philanthropic partner to the largest health system in the largest county in North Carolina is no small job. And yet, over the past 30 years, the team at the WakeMed Foundation has collected more than 72,000 gifts resulting in nearly $83 million dollars to help WakeMed Health & Hospitals live their mission of improving the health and well-being of the community by enhancing access to care and fostering innovative programs. 

Just ask Hank Woods, vice president, who joined the nonprofit in May 2024 to direct the team responsible for fundraising and engagement. With more than 24 years of development and nonprofit leadership experience – 20+ years with Duke University and most recently, as chief partnerships and development officer with HOW Institute for Society — Hank was a quick study.

Vice President Hank Woods 

 “We have an incredible community of people, staff, and volunteers who want to invest in WakeMed and help support our mission,” says Hank. “We’re very fortunate.” 

Hank explains how the Foundation got its start. “Raleigh Campus, WakeMed’s flagship hospital, was originally founded in 1961 as a county hospital. When Wake County leaders determined it was time to transition the organization to other ownership in the mid-1990s, several community-minded individuals stepped in to ensure it was not sold to private developers. They wanted to make sure WakeMed remained committed to caring for all. The roots of the Foundation were planted with these ‘friend-raisers.’

Conversations continued about the increasing need for health care services and how fundraising and “friend-raising” both played a role in advancing the care and services provided to Wake County residents. The Foundation was formed in 1994, and, in April 1997, the hospital became a private not-for-profit and conducted its first major fundraising initiative to build a free-standing children's emergency department – the first of its kind in North Carolina.

Today, WakeMed Health & Hospitals operates three acute care hospitals, a physical rehabilitation hospital, a children’s hospital and a mental health and well-being hospital with a total of 1003 beds, eight emergency departments, and 160+ physician practice locations and out-patient services and employs more than 12,000 team members. 

“Thanks to the seeds sewn by this dynamic group of founders and our amazing staff and volunteers, the Foundation is in as strong a position now as it’s ever been,” says Hank. “We finished our fiscal year 2024 with more than $14 million raised which was a record high year for us, more than doubling our previous record.”

WakeMed Foundation joined TowneBank in 2009, at the invitation of Brian Reid, president, TowneBank Triangle. “TowneBank has been a terrific partner to the Foundation,” says Debbie Laughery, vice president of Marketing and Communications, who has worked closely with the Foundation for almost 28 years.   

“Even before Brian joined the board, TowneBank has always supported our efforts whether as a sponsor of an event or a donor for a program, service or new facility,” says Deb. “Most recently, TowneBank pledged a lead gift to our Courage to Confront Crisis campaign – our current effort to raise $50 million to build a mental health and well-being hospital.”

WakeMed plans to develop a “Whole-Person Health Campus” on a 56-acre site in Garner, NC. The new campus will include a 150-bed mental health & well-being hospital connected to a 45-bed acute care hospital, symbolizing the deep connection between mental and physical health. The campus will include gardens, green space, and light, signifying the importance of fresh air and nature in the healing process. 

The need for mental health services is great. “Across the nation and in our own community, we are experiencing a mental health crisis of unprecedented proportions,” says Hank, noting that the aftermath of the global pandemic, the lack of accessible mental health care, stretched resources, and the Raleigh area’s soaring population have all made the problem more severe. 

“Emergency rooms are overflowing with people suffering through a crisis because access to quality mental health care is out of reach, especially for those who are uninsured or under-insured. Every person I have talked to about this project has shared a truly humbling story about how mental health challenges have impacted them, a close friend or a family member,” explains Hank. “And every person we have asked to volunteer and help in some way has answered ‘yes.’ It’s been eye-opening, but it also affirms how serious this need is in our community.”

“At the core of everything WakeMed does is our commitment to our community and our mission: to improve the overall health and well-being of that community,” says Hank. “Our partnership with TowneBank is critically important. Brian Reid currently serves on our Foundation Board, and Jack Clayton, president of business strategy, formerly served on both our Foundation and Hospital Boards. From everything I have seen and experienced, TowneBank is an integral part of this community, and they take their community involvement very seriously. It’s just the core of who they are, and I think their connection with us just furthers that commitment.” 

For more information, visit WakeMed.org.