GM Spring Hill Grant Helps Provide Free Car Seats to Families in Need

Issue #676

March 02, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

☁️ Columbia’s Tuesday Weather - Cloudy w/ high of 75, low of 59

📰 GM Spring Hill Grant Helps Provide Free Car Seats to Families in Need

🎤 3/5: Brent Loper & The All Star Band at The Mulehouse

🩸 Urgent Need for Blood Donors in Southern Middle Tennessee

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

GM Spring Hill Grant Helps Provide Free Car Seats to Families in Need

Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries among children in the United States. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, approximately 59% of car seats are not installed correctly, significantly increasing the risk of injury or death in the event of a crash. To help address this ongoing safety concern, Maury Regional Health Care Foundation has been awarded the General Motors (GM) Car Seat Grant for the seventh consecutive year.

This grant comes from GM Spring Hill Manufacturing through the 2025 Community Impact Grants program. Each year, GM Spring Hill Manufacturing provides funding to local nonprofits aimed at supporting STEAM Education and Road Safety. Since 2019, Maury Regional Health Care Foundation has received over $150,000 through the program. 

GM’s continued investment reflects their commitment to helping keep families safe on Tennessee roads. The award of the GM grant will strengthen the Community Car Seat Safety Initiative by funding certification and recertifications for car seat safety technicians, public education, car seat inspections, and free car seats for families in need in Maury County and our service area.

“Safety on the road begins long before a vehicle leaves our plant,” said GM Spring Hill Manufacturing Executive Director Anton Busuttil. “For seven years, GM has invested in this effort to help families protect what matters most. We value strong partnerships like this one that improve the well‑being of the communities where our employees live and work.”

The Foundation serves a predominantly rural population in Columbia and surrounding areas, with many at-risk and underserved families with babies and small children. The Community Car Seat Safety Initiative program targets individuals who lack access to adequate resources to protect their children while riding in an automobile.

The Foundation is expanding the reach of the program to all service areas for Maury Regional Health by supplying car seats to patients at Columbia Pediatrics who are in need, as well as Lewisburg Pediatrics, Lewis Health Center, Maury Regional Medical Group Primary Care and Pediatrics and the new Lawrenceburg practice that will be opening in Spring 2026. The organization is also partnering with the Pregnancy Center in Spring Hill and Columbia to increase the availability of safe car seats to families who lack adequate resources.   

“Many parents lack the resources to purchase a car seat that properly fits their child. Through our collaboration with GM, we are able to assist those parents as well as work with Columbia Fire Department and others to ensure there are certified car seat safety technicians offering free inspections for any member of the community,” said Foundation Executive Director Rita Thompson. “With this latest grant, we look forward to expanding our reach in the region.”

Additionally, the Foundation will continue offering free car seats to families experiencing financial barriers or have specific financial needs within the Maury Regional Health system identified through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Mother/Baby floor, pediatricians and care teams.

Since 2006, the Foundation has funded more than $5.8 million in programs and services benefiting community members in need. These programs include medication assistance, a food pantry, transportation assistance, educational support, community health initiatives and employee assistance. Learn more about the Foundation at MauryRegional.com/Foundation.

3/5: Brent Loper & The All Star Band at The Mulehouse

This week at The Mulehouse, Brent Loper & The All-Star Band deliver a high-energy, authentic country music experience rooted in tradition, musicianship, and storytelling. The Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist brings years of touring and songwriting experience to the stage, including collaborations with industry legends like Vince Gill, Steve Dorff, and Craig Campbell. 

Backed by The All-Star Band—an elite group of musicians who’ve performed with artists such as Wynonna, Clint Black, Alison Krauss, and Josh Turner—Brent delivers a live show packed with energy, authenticity, and powerful crowd connection. With a new song co-written with Vince Gill set for release in 2026, this is a show country fans won’t want to miss. 

Urgent Need for Blood Donors in Southern Middle Tennessee

Blood Assurance wants to remind citizens in Southern Middle Tennessee that there is a real need for blood donations now.

“We’re facing a critical shortage of several blood types. It’s been a difficult few weeks. It started with the ice storm that affected many of Blood Assurance’s locations in Middle Tennessee near the end of January. We’ve also been hit by cold and flu season, so we have had a lot of cancellations because of illness.”

All donors will receive a $25 eGift card through Saturday to encourage participation!

Visit www.bloodassurance.org. Don’t forget you one donation will save three lives.

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Tuesday, March 3rd

Wednesday, March 4th

Thursday, March 5th

Friday, March 6th

Saturday, March 7th

Sunday, March 8th

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Tuesday, March 3
Songwriters Round – Whiskey Alley Saloon, 6–9 PM

Thursday, March 5
Todd Ciprian – Tito’s (Spring Hill), 6–9 PM
Brent Loper with the All-Star Band – The Mulehouse, 7 PM
Billy Wilson – Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM

Friday, March 6
Vintage Voltage – McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–10 PM
Brandt Archer – Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM
Troy Kemp – Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Reba’s Hairdo – Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Saturday, March 7
Winter Series: The Bourbon Gospel – 7:30 PM
Herrick Duo – Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Eden Storm – Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

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