Mr. Francis (Weymon) and Mrs. Anna Marie Newsome presented Wartburg with a donation of $200,000 in support of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Weymon and Marie Newsome said of the gift, “We were not at all surprised that Wartburg had the courage to receive COVID-19 patients from area hospitals during this crisis and we are awed by the staff’s commitment to care and service in the face of this pandemic.”
Mr. Newsome is a former resident of The Wartburg Orphan Farm School in the mid-1950’s, has been a steady supporter of Wartburg, and was welcomed into the Wartburg’s Passavant society in 2015. The Passavant Society was established to honor Wartburg’s Founder Rev. Dr. William Alfred Passavant and recognizes individuals who have named Wartburg as a beneficiary in their estate plans.
Dr. Nicolas Cicchetti, Wartburg’s Foundation Chair, said, “On behalf of the Foundation Board of Directors and the Passavant Society we are grateful for the Newsome’s generosity as this region works through the deadliest pandemic in more than a century.”
Wartburg’s Home Board Chair, Robert Ranieri said, “We are tremendously grateful for the support from Wartburg donors, and the greater community. On behalf of the Home Board of Directors I am grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Newsome for their gift in support of Wartburg’s response to COVID-19.”
Dr. David J. Gentner, Wartburg President & CEO, said, “The Newsome’s gift is an inspiration to this team as we begin to heal in the aftermath of unprecedented physically and emotionally challenging circumstances. Our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have passed from the COVID-19 virus which has disproportionately and virulently affected those in our community who are of advanced age and frailty.”
