SGMC Health celebrates new births with special dinner for parents
Published 7:24 am Thursday, February 20, 2025
- Submitted photo: The Gonzalez family enjoys the first Parent Celebration Dinner on Valentine's Day provided by the SGMC Health Foundation
VALDOSTA — SGMC Health seeks to make the birth of a child even more memorable with the launch of its Parent Celebration Dinner.
Every new parent at SGMC Health will be treated to a special plated meal on the evening of their baby’s birth, an effort made possible through generous donations to the SGMC Health Foundation.
This new initiative, thoughtfully prepared by the health system’s food services team, allows parents to select a meal of their choice from a curated menu featuring shrimp, steak, pasta, and dessert. Each meal will be beautifully plated and served as a way to honor and celebrate this joyous occasion. In addition, parents will receive an engraved baby spoon, presented in a keepsake box, as a cherished memento of their baby’s first day.
“We wanted to create something truly special for families on a day that is already life-changing,” said Hilary Gibbs, vice president of support services and chief development officer at SGMC Health. “This dinner is more than just a meal — it’s a moment of celebration, reflection, and joy for parents as they begin their journey with their newborn.”
SGMC Health welcomes approximately 2,000 babies each year, offering comprehensive maternity and neonatal care supported by a team of obstetricians, midwives, pediatricians, and neonatologists. The hospital is home to the region’s only Level IIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), providing 24/7 coverage by board-certified neonatologists to care for premature and medically fragile infants.
Looking ahead, SGMC Health is furthering its commitment to maternal and infant care with the construction of its Women & Infants Tower and Emergency Department, set to open in late 2026. This $150 million investment will create a state-of-the-art environment dedicated to prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal care, ensuring that families in the region have access to the highest quality services for generations to come, the hospital said.
For more information about the SGMC Health Foundation and its initiatives, please visit sgmcfoundation.org.
