HOPE Gallatin Throws a Party

When good things happen, we like to celebrate and share our joy!  Recently HOPE Family Health celebrated our newest location, HOPE Gallatin, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at our new facility, located in Sumner Medical Plaza at 300 Steam Plant Road, Suite 210.

HOPE Gallatin opened its doors to community and government leaders in Gallatin and beyond, to hear HOPE’s story, learn about our services, and see firsthand the vision and sense of mission that makes HOPE so special. Thanks to a lot of hard work from a lot of folks, the happy event proved to be a great success for HOPE. Here are some highlights.

We had a great turnout. We welcomed officials from city, county, state and federal government offices and the Gallatin Chamber of Commerce; representatives from supporting entities such as Highpoint Health - Sumner with Ascension St. Thomas (formerly Sumner Regional Medical Center), the Memorial Foundation and the Carolyn Smith Foundation; colleagues from Tennessee Primary Care Association, Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Hospital Association, Upper Middle Tennessee Rural Health Network, Volunteer Behavioral Health, and HCA TriStar Division; representatives from the Gallatin office of Nashville International Center for Empowerment, a refugee placement organization; staff and intercessory prayer team from First Baptist Church Gallatin, Winchester Street; and several members of HOPE’s Board of Directors.

CEO Jenny Dittes shared from her heart. Jenny’s founding of HOPE in 2005 fulfilled a call she had felt for a long time. Everything HOPE does emanates from that call and that vision, which Jenny firmly believes comes from God. She shared with our guests – and later, with the entire HOPE staff – three things she felt God had revealed to her the night before from the 23rd Psalm, which I share here with her permission.

Psalm 23:2: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. – HOPE’s job, Jenny said, is to be a source of encouragement, empathy and empowerment, so we can help move people from a place of scarcity, marked by anxiety and apprehension, to a place of plenty, where faith and hope are renewed with the quiet expectation that God will bring good from our current circumstances.

Psalm 23:4: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. – HOPE’s job is to support our patients with our presence and support, walking with them through dark valleys in their lives, when they may be overwhelmed with illness, pain, grief, loss or fear.

Psalm 23:6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. – HOPE’s job is to provide our patients with a healthcare home, a place of belonging, comfort and safety.

We gave our guests a chance to interact. A brief public ceremony included a welcome to our

guests from HOPE’s Board Chair Brad Tuttle; expressions of support and partnership from CEO Rod Harkleroad, of Highpoint Health-Sumner with Ascension St. Thomas; comments from Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown welcoming HOPE to the Gallatin community, and a prayer of dedication from Rev. Derrick Jackson of First Baptist Church Gallatin, Winchester Street. Afterward  people mingled, asked questions, and discussed ways to come together to make Gallatin a healthier community.

We welcomed the guests inside to learn more. Inside the front lobby, guests viewed a two-minute video that told HOPE’s story in a nutshell. They saw beautiful floral arrangements in the colors of HOPE’s logo, and they took in the soothing colors, décor, and comfortable atmosphere that permeates every room. They listened as HOPE staff, serving as tour guides, explained a particular aspect of HOPE’s services and answered questions. And, of course, they enjoyed refreshments, including delicious cupcakes decorated in HOPE’s logo colors.

When the last guest had left, HOPE staff who had participated in the event shared smiles of accomplishment and sighs of relief. Then we all relaxed together, relating the conversations we’d had, the people we’d seen, the things we’d heard and observed: how guests loved the video, how they admired the flowers and the facility, how they expressed pleasant surprise at the range of our services, how curious they were to know more.

Yes, it was a good day for HOPE. We knew, when it was over, that because of our efforts that day, HOPE will reach more people and find ways to help them have good days again, too. And that’s what it’s all about.

Photo captions

Photo 1 - Jennifer Dittes (center), CEO of HOPE Family Health, smiles after cutting the ribbon for HOPE Gallatin. Pictured (l-r) are Miranda Connor, HOPE's Director of Human Resources; Rod Harkleroad, CEO of Highpoint Health-Ascension St. Thomas; Dittes; Brad Tuttle, Chairman of HOPE's Board of Directors; and Amanda Perry, HOPE's Director of Medical Services.

Photo 2 - Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown welcomes HOPE to Gallatin’s business community.

Photo 3 -Jenny shares her heart.

Photo 4 - Rod Harkleroad, CEO of Highpoint Health - Sumner, with Ascension St. Thomas, discusses partnering with HOPE to increase healthcare services in the community. Behind him, HOPE CEO Jenny Dittes, Ray Render, Deputy District Director for U.S. Rep. John Rose, and Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown listen intently.

Photo 5 - HOPE CEO Jenny Dittes smiles with Kalyn Foster, Associate Pastor, and Derrick Jackson, Sr. Pastor, from First Baptist Church – Gallatin, Winchester Street.

Photo 6 - HOPE staff relax and reflect on the ribbon cutting event. Pictured (l-r) are Dr. David Yale and Shawna Farley (in foreground); Miranda Connor; Jenny Dittes (behind Miranda); Sandra Maxfield; Jennifer Newberry (center); Alex Thomas; Kim Riley; and Freddie Fuqua.