Our Story
In 2000, Beth and Sandy Baldwin’s twenty-six year-old son, Branner, was diagnosed with melanoma. With the possibility of participating in a clinical trial, Branner’s doctor referred him to Pittsburgh, PA. For the four months while Branner was receiving treatment, he and his family made themselves at home at the Pittsburgh Family House. Already strong supporters of the local Ronald McDonald House, living the experience led Beth and Sandy to truly understand the impact of a hospital hospitality home.
After Branner passed away soon after returning to Winston-Salem, Beth and Sandy used their son’s memory to ignite a committee tasked with creating a similar home away from home in Winston-Salem. After years of hard work, collaboration with the medical centers, and support from the entire community, the SECU Family House opened its doors to guests in September 2011.
The Name “SECU”
SECU stands for State Employees’ Credit Union. This statewide credit union has adopted as one of its charitable causes the establishment of Hospital Hospitality Houses in selected communities that are home to regional medical centers. We are thankful for the $2 million challenge grant that the SECU Foundation has provided to help fund construction of SECU Family House in Winston-Salem. Among our other major donors is The Richard J. Reynolds, III and Marie M. Reynolds Foundation, which provided a $1 million lead gift.
