For Dr. Evans Holland and his wife, Helen, McLeod Health is so much more than just a place of work. During the past 27 years, McLeod has truly become a part of their family.

In turn, McLeod has also become part of their legacy of giving.

As a Florence native, Dr. Holland knew he would eventually want to return home to establish his medical practice. Plus, he and Helen hoped to raise their family near their loved ones.

The Hollands began supporting the McLeod Health Foundation shortly after the birth of their second child, Olivia. At just 11-weeks-old, Olivia had to be hospitalized for an infection.

“We were so impressed with the level of care Olivia received,” Helen reflected. “We wanted to give back to show our appreciation.”

A few years later, the Hollands’ first born, Billy, required an emergency appendectomy at the age of nine. This routine procedure ended up being more complex than expected and the surgeon recommended an extended stay for nine-year-old Billy to recover in the McLeod Children’s Hospital.

This experience further deepened the Hollands’ connection to the McLeod Foundation, and motivated Helen to become personally involved. Helen participated in the McLeod Fellows program in 2014. She went on to become the Chair of the Community Partners Program Committee, which connects leaders in the Florence community with the work of the Foundation.

In 2019, the Hollands decided to establish a Cardiac Rehabilitation Endowed Fund. Dr. Holland witnesses daily the paramount need for constant follow-up and reinforcement through regular participation in cardiac rehabilitation stating, “Both are equally as important to a patient’s recovery as the procedures that I perform.”

Their gift was made in honor of Evans Parnell Holland, Sr., who worked tirelessly for the benefit of McLeod Health, and in memory of Helen’s father, William Reeves Dunn.

Mr. Dunn died suddenly at 54 years old of an aortic aneurism. Had technology been different, he may have survived and would certainly be an advocate for the Cardiac Rehabilitation program.

Their gift will help provide lifesaving cardiac rehabilitation for those patients who would not otherwise be able to afford to stay in the program due to financial barriers to care.

“We are loyal to McLeod,” Helen shared. “It is so important for our children to see us supporting our local hospital and community. We hope to inspire them to also invest in their own communities, wherever they choose to call home.”