Megan’s House campaign for new home surpasses $300,000

ALBANY — After the Albany Bass Club presented a check for $7,100 from the proceeds raised at its recent Team Bass Tournament to go toward the capital campaign for a new Megan’s House in Albany, officials from Easter Seals Southern Georgia announced the campaign, launched just overa year ago, has eclipsed $300,000.

Started at the 10-year celebration for Megan’s House, the fundraising effort that started in February 2014 is ahead of schedule.

The announcement Friday came near the first anniversary of the death of Carol Hay Hollomon, an Albany resident whose daughter was the inspiration for Megan’s House. She passed away at age 65 following a medical procedure for atrial fibrillation from which she was unable to recover.

“It was her dream to have this new house,” said Nicki Wilson, director of respite and family support services for Easter Seals Southern Georgia.

The amount raised to date, officials said, was equivalent to what they would have expected to raise in three years. Easter Seals Executive Director Beth English said the success of the campaign could be attributed to Hollomon overseeing the efforts from above.

“I feel there is direction up there,” English said. “Carol does not stop.”

Megan’s House is a respite care home for children up to age 17 who have developmental disabilities, autism or are medically fragile. Available to families on a sliding scale fee, it is open for them to use anywhere from 24 hours to two weeks per visit and can serve up to two children at one time.

The current facility is near the Easter Seals office on Palmyra Road. The goal of the campaign is to raise $500,000, enough to build a house large enough to accommodate up to four children.

Among those present at the announcement Friday were state Rep. Ed Rynders, R-Leesburg, and Kenneth Cutts with the district office of U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany.

Services in south Georgia are provided in Albany, as well as in Valdosta and Waycross, and in Columbus through Easter Seals West Georgia. It is named for Megan Hollomon, who was 14 shen she died unexpectedly in 2003. She was diagnosed with Partial Trisomy 22 Chromosome Disorder shortly after birth, leaving her mentally and physically challenged.

“The new house is important because the current location is very small,” Wilson said. “The new one will house up to four children, and there will be a place for therapies and for volunteers to come in. We are very excited about what that means.”

Wilson said Easter Seals is also looking to foundations to help bridge the $200,000 gap to the goal. Officials are looking for a place to build, and are hoping to break ground either in the fall or early next year.

She added that Easter Seals officials have been “blown away” by the amount of support the campaign has gotten, and thinks that Hollomon would have been as well.

“I think she would be so ecstatic. … Without the community support, we couldn’t be here 11 years later,” Wilson said.