For the Hollands, Philanthropy is a Family Affair

Family Experiences and Caring Inspire Years of Giving

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

The Hollands are closely connected to McLeod Health. As a Florence native, Dr. Holland knew he would eventually want to return to establish his practice, and he and Helen hoped to raise their family near their loved ones. After Dr. Holland received his education  and training at Wofford College, MUSC, The Medical College of Virginia and the University of Florida, the Hollands moved to Florence for him to begin his work as an Interventional Cardiologist at McLeod in July of 1997. 

The Hollands gave their first gift to the McLeod Health Foundation in 2000, shortly after the birth of their second child, Olivia. At just 11-weeks-old, Olivia contracted an infection that required her to be hospitalized. 

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

A few years later, their first born, Billy, required an emergency appendectomy at the age of nine. This routine procedure ended up being more complex and his surgeon, the late Dr. Joseph “Jay” Pearson, recommended an extended stay for Billy to recover in the McLeod Children’s Hospital. Once again, the Hollands were inspired to give back to the McLeod Foundation in gratitude for the outstanding care provided to their family.

“When we moved here, we recognized that Florence was truly a medical hub,” Helen explained. “To have a growing, improving community means having a hospital dedicated  to expanding and enhancing care to meet that growth.”

As Helen’s understanding of the McLeod Foundation deepened, she was prompted to become personally involved. Helen participated in the McLeod Fellows program in 2014, and then became the Chair of the Community Partners Program Committee, connecting leaders in the Florence community with the work of the McLeod 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 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. 

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, who died suddenly at 54-years-old of an aortic aneurysm. If technology had been different, he may have survived and been an advocate for the cardiac rehabilitation program. 

The Hollands are truly honored to be able to recognize such incredible mentors in their lives and to ensure that their legacy lives on in the lives of those treated through McLeod Cardiac Rehabilitation. 

Helen added, “We are loyal to McLeod for many reasons, but especially due to the fact that Evans has dedicated his entire adult life to the hospital. It’s 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.”