For David Hibbard, Grants Manager at Scotland Health, giving to the Power of 26: Healing Begins Here employee campaign isn’t rooted in a single moment or personal connection—it’s grounded in something both simpler and deeper: belief in the place he works, the people he serves, and the future of healthcare in the community.

“I’ve always felt like you should support where you work,” David explains. “That’s just been a personal philosophy of mine, even back when I worked in higher education.”

But what began as a principle has grown into something more meaningful since joining Scotland Health.

Every day, David sees—or hears—evidence of the difference the Scotland Cancer Treatment Center makes. Sometimes those moments come unexpectedly, like a recent lunch outing.

“I was at Firehouse Subs a couple of months ago, and a woman noticed my badge,” he recalls. “She spent five minutes telling me about how good we were to her sister—how much that care meant to their family. You hear stories like that, and it sticks with you. You realize this place is making a real impact.”

While David doesn’t have a direct personal connection to the Cancer Center, cancer has touched his life. His father passed away from the disease, and other family members have faced similar challenges. Those experiences shape how he views the importance of compassionate, accessible care close to home.

“I know what it means to have a strong, supportive care team,” he says. “Even though my dad didn’t receive care here, that perspective is always in the back of my mind.”

Working on campus, the need for expansion is impossible to miss.

“You can walk over there and see it,” David says. “The waiting rooms are packed. You think, ‘Wow—they really need more space.’ It’s not abstract—it’s right in front of you.”

In his role as Grants Manager, David regularly evaluates competing needs across the healthcare system. Yet what stands out about the Cancer Center expansion is not just the current demand, but the long-term vision behind it.

“We’re always thinking about what’s best for the community—not just now, but 20 or 30 years down the road,” he explains. “And when you look at the growing need for cancer care, it’s clear this is an investment that matters.”

That perspective is reinforced by the Cancer Center’s own history. When the idea for the facility was first proposed decades ago, feasibility studies suggested it might not be financially viable. Still, leaders at the time chose to move forward, guided by a belief in what the community would need.

“They had the foresight to do it anyway,” David says. “And now, looking at what it’s become—you realize how important that decision was.”

Long before he worked at Scotland Health—or even lived in the area—David remembers driving along Highway 74 and noticing the Cancer Center.

“I remember thinking, ‘Laurinburg has a cancer center?’ That always stood out to me,” he says. “It told me there was something special here—that a community of this size had invested in that kind of care.”

Today, he sees firsthand what that investment produces: a team deeply committed to their patients.

“I don’t know everyone over there, but I know enough to see how much they care,” he says. “And when you combine that with what you hear from the community, it really confirms it—they take exceptional care of people.”

For David, giving to the campaign is both personal and practical. It’s about honoring the past, supporting the present, and ensuring the future.

“This is a resource our community needs,” he says. “And it’s only going to become more important.”

In the end, his decision comes down to a simple truth—one reinforced by every story he hears, every need he sees, and every life touched by care:

“It’s just something worth investing in.”

To join the Power of 26 Employee Campaign, donate here.

Or if you are not an employee and would like to give, visit here.