A select group of families and members of a Forsyth County civic group got a sneak peak Thursday at Forsyth’s newest medical facility.

Members of the Sawnee Woman’s Club welcomed some 80 children who won the group’s annual countywide art contest and their families to a reception at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The facility is at The Avenue Forsyth off Peachtree Parkway.

Club member Beth Buursema, who’s also community outreach liaison at Children’s, said about 400 people attended the reception.

“It was by far the largest turnout we have ever had for an art reception and it was incredible,” she said.

This year’s art contest winners will have their works permanently displayed at the facility, which officially opens June 1.

Buursema said about 1,500 submissions with the theme of “What does it mean to be a team player?” were received from elementary students throughout the county. One from each grade level was selected as a countywide winner, while there were other winners at every school.

Parents at Thursday’s reception seemed impressed with the new facility, which is 20,000 square feet and houses a variety of services such as emergency care, orthopedics, lab procedures and physical therapy.

The facility will also include a permanent child’s ambulance, which Buursema said offers “all the services of an ER or ICU.”

“It’s wonderful to have this in our neighborhood,” said Deborah Domagalski, a mother of three girls. “With something as trusted as Children’s, it’s so nice to have them locally. And having local kids’ artwork, that is really special.”

More people will get a chance to see the new Children’s facility before its official opening.

Leaders have planned two pre-opening events this week in celebration of the occasion.

The first is a closed ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, followed by a community open house and health fair on May 22.

Linda Cole, vice president of Children’s, said she and other leaders “look forward to serving” the children of Forsyth.

“We’re humbled by the outpouring of support we have received from the community,” she said, noting that they will bring a wide range of “world class pediatric services.”

“Whether your child is a 6’1” quarterback with a torn tendon or a toddler with the flu, our staff has years of extra training and age-based treatments to care for all of your children’s health issues,” Cole said.

Tuesday’s event, which is not open to the public, will feature remarks from Children’s leaders and local elected officials, as well as the ribbon cutting.

The community open house and health fair May 22 will offer a range of family-friendly activities, including inflatables, face painting, concessions and wellness screenings.

There also will be photos with Hope and Will, the mascots of Children’s Healthcare, and tours of a child’s ambulance and the facility.

The event is open to all Forsyth residents, particularly parents and children.

“We hope you’ll come meet us before you need us at our community open house on May 22,” Cole said.