Garden Club of Savannah Grant

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SAVANNAH, GA — September 19, 2025 - Hope Haven is honored to be among 15 local organizations awarded a share of $60,000 in grants from the Garden Club of Savannah. The awards were presented during a ceremony at the historic Massie School by 2025 NOGS Chairman, Era Hall.

Proceeds for the grants come from the Garden Club’s annual NOGS Garden Tour, held each spring.

The grants support a variety of programs addressing community needs. Hope Haven, a faith-based day respite program, offers a “social club” experience for people living with dementia and other cognitive changes, while also giving caregivers much-needed rest and renewal.

Other grant recipients included Tybee’s Fresh Air Home, which provides a free summer camp for children on Tybee Island, and Tharros Place, which offers shelter and support services for survivors of human trafficking.

“It was uplifting to see so many wonderful community organizations gathered together in one space,” said Cathy Baxter, director of Hope Haven. “The Garden Club of Savannah does more than beautify our city—they cultivate hope and invest in people, and that generosity strengthens the entire community.”

ABOUT HOPE HAVEN
Hope Haven is a faith-based day respite ministry located in downtown Savannah at St. John’s Church, Cranmer Hall, 27 West Charlton Street. Dedicated to providing dementia support with heart, Hope Haven serves individuals living with dementia or other cognitive challenges through a unique “social club” experience where there is no distinction made between members and volunteers. For four hours they engage together in games, music, art, exercise, shared meals, and service projects that enrich mind, body, and spirit while giving caregivers much-needed rest. Hope Haven is supported by trained volunteers and guided by the principles of compassion, dignity, and community. Prospective members must be medically stable, capable of socializing in a group setting, ambulatory (with or without assistive devices), and able to manage eating and toileting needs independently. A one-time $100 registration fee applies, with program costs of $205 per month for one day a week or $410 per month for two days a week. Hope Haven operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays 47 weeks per year. Scholarships are available. To learn more, visit www.savannahrespite.com or call 912-231-7310.

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For media inquires, contact Mary Beth Kennedy: SavannahRespiteNews@Gmail.com

SAVANNAH, GA – August 21, 2025 – Three Savannah VOICE Festival artists — Chad Sonka, Michael Ching

and Lavonya Johnson — brought the gift of live music last week to the members of Hope Haven, a social club

for people in the early to mid-stages of dementia.

Hope Haven provides joyful community for them, respite for caregivers and a place for volunteers to love and serve. Studies show that live music sparks memory and connection for those living with dementia, and that familiar songs reduce anxiety and bring comfort.

SVF artists lead off the program with four virtuoso solo pieces before joining members in singing some Hope

Haven favorites, “This Land Is Your Land” and “Amazing Grace”.

“The SVF artists filled the room with joy, touching the hearts of our members, their caregivers and our

volunteers,” said Cathy Baxter, director of Hope Haven. “Beyond showcasing their remarkable talent, they

created an inclusive and engaging atmosphere by inviting everyone to sing along.”

Caregiver Twyla Abo shared, “The singing made me really emotional… truly beautiful voices.”

The Savannah VOICE Festival’s partnership with Hope Haven is one of many community outreach efforts,

which also include programs with the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Historic Savannah

Foundation and Hospice Savannah.

“We are incredibly grateful for the partnerships that help bring world-class vocal music to the heart of our

community,” said Evelina Erickson, Executive Director of SVF. “SVF is proud to provide this kind of outreach

led by world-renowned faculty, that promotes arts accessibility while giving back to those we serve the

community."

Savannah VOICE Festival is a 501(c) 3 tax exempt nonprofit arts organization in the state of Georgia. The

Festival brings classical vocal excellence to the Savannah area through a two-week celebration of concerts,

events and educational presentations during the month of August and throughout the year. Focusing on arts

awareness and audience development in the performing arts, it offers music from opera, musical theatre and

popular song. Donations are tax-deductible. The Savannah VOICE Festival is supported in part by the Georgia

Council for the Arts through the appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly. GCA is a Partner Agency

of the National Endowment for the Arts.

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For media inquiries, please contact Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com, Lesley Francis at 912-429-

3950 or lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com, or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

SAVANNAH, GA. (June 13, 2025) — Hope Haven has named Cathy Baxter as the inaugural director of its respite ministry, launched by St. John’s Church (Episcopal) to provide joyful engagement and personal connection for individuals living with neurological challenges, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Baxter is committed to serving both individuals with dementia and their caregivers, recognizing that support must extend to the entire family. “This balance,” she says, “contributes to a higher quality of life for the entire family.” Hope Haven’s twice-weekly program, led by trained and dedicated volunteers, offers four hours of engaging activities for participants while providing caregivers with valuable time for rest and renewal.

“Cathy understands the importance of providing a joyful experience for those who are too often isolated,” said Terry Pindar, chairman of the Hope Haven leadership committee. “She brings warmth, vision and credibility to a ministry that will serve some of the most vulnerable families in our region.”

Activities such as music, art, games, devotions and shared meals are designed to foster connection and enhance quality of life. The program meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 27 W. Charlton St. in the heart of downtown Savannah.

Baxter brings extensive leadership experience and deep community roots to her new role. She completed Positive Approach to Care® Champion training with dementia care specialist Teepa Snow and holds an Alzheimer’s Association certification. A Savannah native and graduate of Savannah Country Day School, Baxter earned a Bachelor of Science in architecture from the University of Virginia.

Her passion for this work is deeply personal. Having witnessed the devotion of her father as a caregiver to her mother, Baxter understands the profound impact of caregiving and the need for meaningful support for both care partners and their loved ones.

She co-founded the St. John’s Outreach Committee in 2016 and served as chairman through 2023. Outside of her work with Hope Haven, Baxter teaches yoga and runs with the Savannah Striders, finding both practices to be grounding sources of wellness and connection.

Baxter lives in Savannah with her husband, Benjamin Baxter. Their daughter, Emiline, recently completed her freshman year at Georgia Tech.

Hope Haven officially launched in February 2025 and also offers monthly caregiver support groups led by Jill Costello of Hospice Savannah’s Edel Caregiver Institute, along with volunteer training led by Baxter in collaboration with Costello and certified dementia care specialist Robin Dill.

Designed as a community-wide effort, the ministry welcomes members and volunteers from across Savannah and surrounding areas.

ABOUT HOPE HAVEN
Hope Haven enriches the lives of families experiencing dementia through joyful engagement and hopeful support. For more information or to get involved, visit SavannahRespite.com or contact Cathy Baxter at (912) 231-7310. We are located at: 27 West Charlton St. Savannah, GA 31401

Contact us for media opportunities: SavannahRespiteNews@Gmail.com