# Walton County Health Care Foundation

Walton County Health Care Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Monroe, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Monroe, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Monroe, GA, United States
- **Founded:** 2003
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** wchcfi.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://wchcfi.org/

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Walton County Health Care Foundation formed in 2003 from the sale of Walton Medical Center, converting a community hospital into a permanent grantmaking endowment. The Walton County Hospital Authority created the foundation and still appoints its nine-member board. Executive Director Ben E. Garrett, who previously led the National Bank of Walton County for Synovus, runs the day-to-day alongside a board chaired by Scott D. Simpkins. The foundation's mandate is narrow and geographic: support charitable, scientific, or educational purposes that advance health care in Walton County, Georgia. It awards grants rather than making direct program-related investments and does not function as a venture-philanthropy vehicle. Its asset base consists of an investment portfolio and cash equivalents held in Monroe, though the foundation does not publicly disclose its allocation by asset class or specific fund commitments. With an estimated $44 million (Altss estimate), the foundation operates as a lean institution. No additional offices or vehicles extend beyond its Monroe headquarters. Leadership overlaps heavily with local civic and banking networks; Executive Director Garrett serves on the Synovus Walton County Advisory Board, and the foundation maintains visibility through the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. These ties anchor its sourcing model to the specific health needs of one rural Georgia county. The foundation's structure is a pure grantmaking endowment — it does not co-invest, incubate ventures, or manage operating entities. Unlike many health-conversion foundations that pursue program-related investments, Walton County's vehicle operates as a straightforward steward of the hospital-sale proceeds under the oversight of a politically appointed board. The nine directors, named by the Walton County Hospital Authority, form the sole governance layer linking the foundation's capital to the county it serves.

## Sectors

- Healthcare Services

## People

- Scott D. Simpkins — Chairman
- Randy Garrett — Vice Chairman
- Ben E. Garrett — Executive Director
- Melissa Chapman — Treasurer
- Charlotte George — Secretary

## Questions

### How was the Walton County Health Care Foundation created and what is its source of capital?

The foundation was established in 2003 using the proceeds from the sale of Walton Medical Center. The Walton County Hospital Authority, which sold the hospital, created the foundation and continues to appoint its nine-member board of directors. The corpus is permanently dedicated to health-related grants in Walton County, Georgia.

### Who makes investment and grantmaking decisions at the foundation?

Ben E. Garrett serves as Executive Director, running daily operations. A nine-member board of directors, chaired by Scott D. Simpkins, holds ultimate fiduciary authority over the investment portfolio and grant approvals. The board members are appointed by the Walton County Hospital Authority.

### Does the foundation make direct investments or only grants?

The foundation is a grantmaking entity, not a direct investor. It awards grants for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes that promote health care in Walton County. There is no public indication that it engages in venture investing, private equity, or program-related investments alongside external managers.

### What is the foundation's relationship with Synovus Bank?

Executive Director Ben E. Garrett is a retired president and CEO of National Bank of Walton County, a Synovus affiliate, and serves on the Synovus Walton County Advisory Board. The foundation's leadership has deep historical ties to Synovus through Garrett's career, but the foundation is an independent nonprofit.

### How is the foundation governed and who appoints the board?

The Walton County Hospital Authority appoints all nine directors. The board includes Chairman Scott D. Simpkins, Vice Chairman Randy Garrett, Treasurer Melissa Chapman, and Secretary Charlotte George. The Walton County Board of Commissioners appoints members to the Hospital Authority itself, creating an indirect public-oversight chain.

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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