The Next Generation, a volunteer organization founded to benefit The Children’s Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, recently made a $125,000 donation to the Dwaine and Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah as part of the organization’s Angel Wings Campaign. The Next Generation launched the Angel Wings Campaign in an effort to raise $275,000 to purchase a new neonatal intensive care ambulance.

Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President of the Children’s Hospital Bill Lee accepted the check donation from Jamie Lane, president of The Next Generation’s board of directors, at the volunteer organization’s recent “Make It Happen” Friend Drive. The money will go towards the first payment installment for the new neonatal ambulance, which is expected to be delivered to the Children’s Hospital this fall.

“We’ve worked very hard to raise the necessary funds to secure this new ambulance, which will provide the latest technology and medical equipment available on the market to secure a safe transport for critically ill pediatric patients,” said Lane. “The new ambulance will also be built large enough to hold a member of the child’s family so they can travel with their babies or child to Memorial.”

Through individual, corporate, and event fundraisers scheduled for later this year, The Next Generation hopes to raise the additional funds needed for the final payment installation.

“The Next Generation does a wonderful job of making the Children’s Hospital a place of happiness for its patients and families going through very stressful times,” said Lee. “We are so grateful to have their support and of those people and organizations who believe in The Next Generation’s mission. We’re looking forward to unveiling the new ambulance later this fall and it will be an exciting moment for all of us.”

Over the last six years, the organization has purchased specialized medical equipment; built and stocked a Toy Lending Library; provided more than 225 birthday and end-of-chemotherapy celebrations; decorated the pediatric halls and playrooms; collected more than 2,000 toys, gift cards, books, DVDs, coloring books and crayons; and purchased flat screen TVs and DVD players for all patient rooms along with five portable gaming systems and so much more.