Southwest Georgia Network

(Press Release courtesy of Phoebe Putney Health System)

Albany, Ga. – IHOP® Restaurants have set the date for its 13^th annual IHOP National Pancake Day® event, the centerpiece of the all-day breakfast leader’s 60 Days of Giving campaign. As the brand’s signature philanthropic event, IHOP National Pancake Day and all related activities directly benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) and other charities dedicated to finding cures and eradicating life-threatening diseases that affect children and families.

On Tuesday, February 27, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. guests can receive a free short stack* of the brand’s world-famous, freshly made buttermilk pancakes at IHOP Restaurants nationwide. In return, guests are asked to help make a difference by leaving a donation of any size on-check or in-restaurant with all funds going to the charity partners’ local hospital affiliate. At the IHOP in Albany, GA, and Adel, GA, all donations will benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Phoebe.

To mark its milestone 60^th year in business, IHOP and its franchisees have set an ambitious goal of raising $5 million for children’s hospitals and medical research during the two-month campaign – plus serving a record-breaking 5 million pancakes in a single day. All the money raised during this year’s 60 Days of Giving campaign will stay local and benefit thousands of children’s hospitals across the country. Last year, the IHOP in Albany raised just over $6,600 and $945 in Adel. This year the locations are looking to raise $8,500 combined.

To help bolster efforts, Becca Miller, CMNH Coordinator, said they are once again offering VIP tables to local businesses. “Last year was the first year we offered VIP tables and it was so successful we decided to do again. Local businesses purchase the tables for their employees to enjoy an hour of fellowship, while giving back to the community.”

Sponsors for the VIP tables this year include: Doherty, Duggan Hart & Tiernan; Miracle KIA of Albany; Miracle Toyota of Albany; Flint Community Bank; Turner’s Furniture; Complete Carriers; Remax of Albany; and PeoplesSouth Bank. The Kiwanis Club of Albany is not only a VIP table sponsor, but will also serve as CMNH ambassadors – visiting each table to tell guests about the great work that Children’s Miracle Network does in our local community.

Between now and March, guests have several ways to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Phoebe including:

Visiting any IHOP Restaurant on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 during event hours* and donating to the featured charity after enjoying a free stack of IHOP’s world-famous Buttermilk Pancakes.

Purchasing a wall icon in increments of $1, $5, $20 or $100 between January 31 and February 27, 2018 to show support. Guests who purchase a $5 wall icon will receive a $5 coupon good for a future purchase of $10 or more (valid at participating restaurants only).

Enjoying a meal at any IHOP restaurant between January 31 and March 31, 2018 and making an in-restaurant cash contribution or on-check donation to the featured charity partner.

Every penny raised locally to benefit Children’s Miracle Network stays in Southwest Georgia to help medical professionals treat our local children. Since 1997, Children’s Miracle Network supporters have raised more than $4.5 million to provide specialized equipment and programs to help babies and children treated at Phoebe. From life-saving equipment to help treat our most critically ill newborns to life-enhancing toys in the Pediatric Unit playroom, every child needing Phoebe’s care has benefited from funds raised through the Children’s Miracle Network.

For more information on how you can help or learn more about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, contact Phoebe Foundation at (229) 312-1491.

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By Walter L. Johnson II

This is the first of what should be multiple posts on the weekend to come in Albany and Southwest Georgia, short and to the point. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get started with this first installment of “Looking Ahead To The Weekend.”

GROW Albany will host its Community Planting Day from 9 a.m.-noon tomorrow at Tift Park. Numerous new trees will be planted to replace those that were destroyed during the severe storms that struck the Albany area in January 2017. The event is sponsored by SB&T, Mission Change, Phoebe Putney Health System, and Phoebe Putney Health System. For more information on volunteering, please click here.

In sports, state tournament time has arrived in Georgia high school basketball, and the Metro Albany area and surrounding communities are well represented for the first-round in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), which starts later today (Friday) and continues through tomorrow (Saturday).

All three GHSA schools in Albany are sending both their boys and girls teams to the state playoffs. The newly-crowned Region 1-AAAA boys champion Westover Patriots will play host to Perry on Saturday, while the girls’ team will travel to Thomaston to face Upson-Lee.

In Class AAA, both Monroe squads will be at home for the first round of the state tournament, as they will host Liberty County in one of the few doubleheaders to be played on the opening weekend. The Lady Tornadoes enter this weekend’s contest as the Region 1-AAA, while the Tornadoes come in as the No. 2 seed.

Both Dougherty teams will hit the road for the first round in Class AAA, with the Trojans traveling to Long County, while the Lady Trojans will go to Pierce County.

Finally, the Worth County Lady Rams will travel to Tattnall County for first-round Class AAA action, while the Lee County Trojans will go to Richmond Hill in the opening round of the Class AAAAAA boys bracket.

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Changes are coming soon to the Southwest Georgia Network, including the southwestgeorgianetwork.com website.

Here’s a quick overview of what to expect in the weeks and months to come:

-The southwestgeorgianetwork.com website will focus more on community news, as well as you can use, primarily serving the City of Albany, as well as Dougherty, Lee and other surrounding counties in Southwest Georgia.

-Our Twitter feed @swganetwork will emphasize more breaking news within the general Southwest and South Central Georgia regions, or telephone area code 229. This includes cities such as Americus, Bainbridge, Moultrie, Thomasville, Tifton, Valdosta, and other towns.

-Additionally, there will be an all-new “Podcast” page added to the website. Possibilities for the new section include a daily audio news update.

-Finally, don’t be surprised to see a completely different design for southwestgeorgianetwork.com, in hopes of making the website more user-friendly.

Our goal at the Southwest Georgia Network is to become the primary online-only news source for Albany, Leesburg, and other surrounding communities, delivering news that’s not available anywhere. Stay connected to the @swganetwork for more on the coming changes to southwestgeorgianetwork.com.

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

Left: Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard signs proclamation declaring February American Month

Right: Phoebe Putney Health System employees with Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard

(Photos and Press Release courtesy of Phoebe Putney Health System)

Albany, Ga. – Phoebe is celebrating American Heart Month with multiple events throughout February. Getting screened and being active are two of the most important ways to manage heart health.

Celebrated since 1963, Heart Month is one of the oldest campaigns aimed at raising awareness about heart disease – the number one cause of death for American men and women. It is also one of the most preventable diseases.  Through education and a healthy lifestyle, you can lower your risk of heart disease. To help combat this deadly disease, Phoebe is inviting the community to the following free events:

Love Your Heart

Get your blood pressure screened at Albany Mall on Valentine’s Day, February 14, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Knowing your numbers can motivate you to make changes to improve your health and reduce your risk of developing heart disease or another serious illness.

Learn for Your Heart

In partnership with the City of Albany and the American Red Cross, Phoebe Network of Trust will teach attendees core CPR skills, in less than 30 minutes. The community event is at the Albany Civic Center on Saturday, February 17, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Dance for Your Heart

One of the major risk factors for heart disease is physical inactivity. Dance for Your Heart is a free event for the whole family. Event participants will dance with Zumba instructors from Studio V-Fit, line-dance with DJ Dollar Bill, and learn yoga from Sol Power Yoga. The dance party is from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, at Albany State University’s West Campus Student Center.

To kick off heart month and in recognition of the ongoing fight against heart disease, earlier today Albany Mayor, Dorothy Hubbard signed a proclamation designating February 2018 as American Heart Month in Albany. The proclamation urges all citizens to recognize the critical importance of knowing the risks for heart disease and how to prevent it.

The Heart Month events are held in partnership between Phoebe, Albany State University, Albany Fire Department and Police Department, American Red Cross, City of Albany, Dougherty County Health Department and Network of Trust.

For more information on any of Phoebe’s Heart Month events, call 229-312-4620.

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