West Tennessee Donates Facility to Youth Town

'It's been a long time coming'...

A resolution on April 27, became reality today, when West Tennessee Healthcare donated property to Youth Town at 3641 Youth Town Road, in Pinson.

“I want to thank West Tennessee Healthcare who contributed their time, talents and resources to construct this great building, for without it, the George Thomas Jr. Academy would not be possible,” Joe Fote said. “This collaboration is what makes ‘community’ work, selfless acts of kindness, and while your name is engraved ‘on’ the building, it is forever engraved ‘in’ our hearts.”

Joe Fote is the chief executive officer at Youth Town.

“The George Thomas Jr., Academy is part of our ministry DNA – and donating this building to us will help our students for years to come to continue their recovery, gain an education and life skills to succeed, and many to come to realize the need for Christ in their lives during their stay here,” Fote said.

Fote said an average of 20 students graduate from the Academy each year.

“It’s another great day we can share with Youth Town,” said James Ross, CEO, West Tennessee Healthcare, “The fact that making an impact on kid’s lives – being able to share with them mentally, physically and spirtually – it’s an honor for me to represent West Tennessee Healthcare’s Board of Trustees, who voted to donate this building to Youth Town.

“It’s been a long time coming, the relationship with Youth Town goes back to the late ’90s, and we love to see this dedication, this effort continue on for years to come.”

The donation adds to a sprawling campus that consists of 278 acres.

Nick Pappas, a former executive director, who continues in a key role as an ambassador, mentioned the success students achieve – educationally and spiritually.

“We’ve seen hard kids go on … some in the medical profession,” Pappas said, “The main thing, I can’t emphasize enough, the number of young people – we have a chapel service here every Monday morning – the number of young people who have come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, because this was possible.”

(PHOTO: From left, Nick Pappas, Youth Town ambassador; Joe Fote, chief executive officer at Youth Town; James Ross, CEO, West Tennessee Healthcare; Nick Summar, COO, Youth Town)

https://wnws.com/its-been-a-long-time-coming-west-tennessee-healthcare-donates-facility-to-youth-town/

WTH gives School Building to Youth Town

A building on the campus of Youth Town that West Tennessee Healthcare has owned for more than two decades is now in the hands of the campus on which it sits.

Representatives of the two entities came together on Friday to commemorate the transition for the building known as the George A. Thomas Jr. Academy.

“This collaboration is what makes community work,” said Joe Fote, the CEO of Youth Town told the representatives of WTH. “The selfless acts of kindness while your name is engraved on the building is forever engraved in our hearts.”

Youth Town is a facility in south Madison County that houses troubled teens and rehabilitates them while continuing their education away from home.

The building was originally purposed by WTH when they acquired it in 1998 as a Pathways facility, but 10 years ago, they leased it to Youth Town for $1 per year.

"We're glad to give this building to Youth Town for their own ownership to let them do as they see fit," said James Ross, CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare.

Ross added that he knew George Thomas Sr., a longtime surgeon in Jackson who passed away in 2019. The academy is named for his son, who died in 1999 at the age of 29.

“This is special for me because I know George Sr. and know George Jr. very well as he was growing up,” Ross said. “And aside from that, just knowing what Youth Town’s mission is and what they do here on a daily basis, we’re glad to support them.”

Former Youth Town CEO and ambassador Nick Pappas was on hand for the announcement as well.

"We graduate an average of 20 kids per year, and we’ve dealt with some kids … hard kids … and seen them go on to do great things including in the medical profession,” Pappas said. “And I can tell you that we have a chapel service in here every Monday morning and we’ve seen a number of people come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior because this was possible.”

Source: https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/2021/08/02/wth-gives-school-building-youth-town/5427190001/

Youth Town, West Tennessee Healthcare Hosts Dedication Ceremony

PINSON, Tennessee – Health officials dedicated a building to a local academy.

On Friday, the West Tennessee Healthcare and Youth Town Academy held a dedication ceremony for the health care donation to the George Thomas Junior Academy Building.

This building is on the Youth Town property and organizers say they are excited to give back to students who deserve an education.

“It is so fundamental for us that we can educate these children in treatment,” said Nick Pappas of Youth Town.

Organizers say this is the first time West Tennessee Healthcare has made a generous donation to the academy.

They say they plan to keep giving back.

https://fiorreports.com/youth-town-west-tennessee-healthcare-hosts-dedication-ceremony/