MAGNOLIA'S FOUNDING & PURPOSE

Magnolia Foundation, Inc. was formed by Lisa Smith, executive director of the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau, out of a desire to honor her mother, Lily Joyce Spradley Satcher, who was lost to colorectal cancer. Ms. Smith wanted to honor her mother with a meaningful gift for women and men in her memory. Magnolia Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization, was born to fund colonoscopies, preparation, and medications necessary to offer free screenings for high risk indigent patients in Chattooga, Floyd and Polk Counties.

Ms. Smith has worked tirelessy with Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coaliton, Inc. (NWGRCC) Director Gena Agnew, who also lost her mother to colorectal cancer. Ms. Agnew lost her mother to colorectal cancer because, like Lisa's mother, she did not know the importance of regular colorectal screenings or have knowledge of the guidelines that anyone over 50 years of age should have a colonoscopy done yearly. After discussion with Charlotte Atkins, editor and producer of Magnolia Magazine, the newest ladies publication by News Publishing Company, it was decided that this was a perfect legacy for both Joyce’s memory as well as Magnolia magazine.

Magnolia Foundation will provide a "Lily’s Gift Card" for a free colonoscopy through screening at the Floyd County Health Department. Not only will the colonoscopy be no charge but preparation medicines, pathology reports and lab work will be included in this gift card. This is designed for persons who are uninsured and not able to attain social service assistance. 

The process for obtaining a gift card is being completed and will be made available as soon as possible.

MAGNOLIA'S GOALS

The “Georgia’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan for 2008 – 2012” specifically addresses colorectal cancer under the chapter on Early Detection & Screening. To Increase screening rates it is necessary to remove barriers and to stimulate participation. Both will likely impact disparities that are known to exist in mortality rates for colorectal cancer. Research shows that early diagnosis is directly linked to better 5-and 10-year survival rates. Between the years of 2000 and 2004, only 41% of colorectal cancers in Georgia were diagnosed at an early stage. This statistic is thought to be due to suboptimal screening in vulnerable populations. During this same time period, only 21% of adults over age 59 reported having a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in the previous three years, while only 41% reported having a sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy.

OUR MAIN GOALS

Magnolia Foundation's main goal is to remove barriers to cancer screening services and to develop a comprehensive strategy to pilot programs to address transportation, scheduling and other barriers to obtaining access to screening by the year 2009.

The other main goal is to increase participation in recommended screenings for colorectal cancer and to improve colorectal cancer screening rates by the year 2012.

In addition, the Magnolia Foundation will work as an advocate for coverage of colonoscopy testing through insurance companies.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS