Porter-Leath, the 160-year-old resource for at-risk families in Memphis, recently received a $5,000 donation from the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation. The money was donated through the bank’s newest branch at 42 S. Claybrook.

“Porter-Leath does such a good job at servicing at-risk families in our community and battling infant mortality in Memphis,” said Tom Patronis, Memphis market president for Wachovia. “They’re very important to us and a particular passion of mine.”

The contribution will go to directly toward Cornerstone, Porter-Leath’s early childhood home visitation program. The program sends AmeriCorps workers into the homes of new and soon-to-be mothers.

“They work with them (mothers) throughout pregnancy to help reach a healthy birth weight of 5.5 pounds, which we do 93.4 percent of the time,” said Mike Warr, vice president of development for Porter-Leath. Effectiveness is monitored by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center … (read more)