The third annual Knox Rox benefit concert, held in April and featuring Lavonda & the 865 Bandits, was the biggest to date and proceeds benefited Hope Springs Adult Day Care Center and the Hillcrest Healthcare Foundation.

Hope Springs is a nonprofit dedicated to providing day services for adults with disabilities. The director is Vicki Worley, a physical therapist and Evergreen-certified dementia care specialist.

Hillcrest Healthcare Foundation promotes healthcare delivery in the Knoxville community by funding indigent care, advanced pharmaceuticals, new technology and equipment, and educational programs to patients and residents of Hillcrest Healthcare.

At the Knox Rox check presentation are Kimberly Way, Crystal Palmer Tate, Caroline Wilder, Vicki Worley, Lavonda Cantrell, Trudy Durham, Weston Babelay and Penny Babelay. The concert was held at the Babelay Farm and 865 Axe Throwing.

Tisha Dugger is LPN; Masons make gift

In late April, Hillcrest Healthcare officials joined with leaders of South College at 6801 Middlebrook Pike in West Hills to salute the first healthcare graduate from their new education partnership.

Tisha Dugger, now a licensed practical nurse (LPN) thanks to the program, joined Hillcrest Healthcare in 2019 as a housekeeper and worked her way up to become a certified nursing assistant at the West Hills community. Dugger received a personalized engraved stethoscope to celebrate being the first Hillcrest Healthcare employee to graduate from the partnership with South College.

Hillcrest Healthcare united with South College to offer tuition reimbursement for employees and their dependents who are interested in pursuing a degree in healthcare. Aimed at easing the shortage of medical staff in the community, the partnership encourages Hillcrest Healthcare’s employees to take advantage of professional certifications to advance their careers.

Hillcrest Healthcare was represented by Barry Davis, president and CEO; Diana Fisher, senior vice president of business development and strategy; Doug Bryant, senior vice president of learning, diversity and talent; Kim Mountz, vice president of clinical services; and Lavonda Cantrell, vice president of marketing and communities. Hillcrest Healthcare operates three skilled nursing, rehabilitation and long-term care facilities in Knox County.

South College was represented by Ben Landers, director of career and alumni services; and Neil Heatherly, vice president of healthcare strategies.

The Mason Center for Healthcare Education reps were Bill and Janet Mason along with Brandi Miller, executive director. The Hillcrest Healthcare Foundation named its education center for Bill Mason, a local attorney who served for 16  years on the board of directors. Bill and Janet Mason donated $5,000 to the center during the ceremony. Info here.

Ben Landers, Bill and Janet Mason, Neil Heatherly, Tisha Dugger, Barry Davis, Kim Mountz, Doug Bryant, Lavonda Cantrell, Brandi Miller and Diana Fisher.