Literature Review

‘The whole family is the patient’: Children’s hospice program in Raleigh receives $2.5 million gift CBS WNCN-17, Raleigh, NC; by Maggie Newland; 5/28/25 Memories of Eliza Craven fill every corner of her family’s home. “She loved art, she loved reading, she loved learning, she loved being outside,” mother Amanda Hayes Craven said. Said father Lee Craven, “She loved her brothers, loved them both fiercely.” In the spring of 2020, that smart, sweet rough-and-tumble 7-year-old got a diagnosis that left her entire family reeling: a brain tumor.  ... The family began receiving services through Transitions LifeCare’s Transitions Kids program in Raleigh.  ...  “The night that she died, it was a weekend night,” Hayes Craven continued. “It was a Friday night. It was after midnight. We expected one nurse and we got an army of people here to support us.” ... While the Craven family wouldn’t wish their pain on anyone, they are grateful that other families facing similar situations can find help through Transitions Kids, which recently received a 2.5 million dollar anonymous gift.

Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppes ABC News WFTS, Tampa Bay, FL; by Gulfside Healthcare; 5/27/25 Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppes serves a greater purpose than providing affordable gently used goods: all net proceeds fund charity care for hospice patients. Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppes has a new and improved online shop for easy access and including shipping. To learn more about Gulfside Hospice, visit Gulfside.org. To shop Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppes online visit gulfsidethrift.myshopify.com/ or stop by one of four convenient locations in New Port Richey, Hudson, Dade City or Zephyrhills. Follow Gulfside on social media for updates and sales.Editor's note: This online access opens up a world of engagement with those who cannot visit the shop in person, especially long distance donors and family members/friends acquainted with Gulfside Hospice. 

'Dancing With Our Stars' marks 10 years of hospice fundraising in Marquette County My UP News, Marquette, MI; by Schyler Perkins; 5/22/25 Thursday night marked the grand finale of the tenth annual Dancing with Our Stars - Marquette County Style contest. ... "Tonight, people can expect nothing short of epic performances," said event organizer Lindsay Hemmila. The competition, which began in 2012 to raise funds for UP Health & Hospice, has become a cornerstone fundraising event in Marquette County. ... "When we first started off, I remember thinking like, my gosh, if I could raise like $40,000, which is quite huge. And now we're, you know, doubling or in some years tripling that number," Hemmila said. ... One of the most impactful programs funded through the event is the "Make a Memory" program, where hospice staff meet with patients to help fulfill wishes before they pass away. 

Inaugural walk raises awareness for pancreatic cancer Columbus Jewish News, Beachwood, OH; by Becky Raspe; 5/21/25 On April 30, Wexner Heritage Village held its inaugural Zusman Hospice & Pancreatic Cancer Walkathon fundraiser. Held at Bexley’s Schneider Park, the event was held in memory of Rob Cohen, brother of Wexner Heritage Village and Zusman Hospice’s volunteer coordinator Judi Koval. Cohen died three years ago from pancreatic cancer ... under the care of Wexner Heritage Village’s Zusman Hospice “at the end of his days.” Organizing the walk to honor her brother, the event date also would’ve been her brother’s birthday, she said. 

Transitions LifeCare receives $2.5 million gift to support Transitions Kids Program Tranisitions LifeCare, Raleigh, NC; Press Release; 5/15/25 Transitions LifeCare is honored to announce a generous $2.5 million gift from a family who wishes to remain anonymous. This heartfelt contribution, pledged over the next five years, comes from a family profoundly impacted by the care they received and is designated to support Transitions Kids—our program providing hospice and palliative care for children. “This gift is incredibly moving,” said Dr. Adam Wolk, CEO of Transitions LifeCare. “It reflects not only the power of compassionate care but also the lasting bond that forms between our team and the families we walk alongside. We’re so grateful for this family’s trust and belief in our mission.”

Thrift shop to benefit hospice patients opens on Charleston's West Side Charleston Gazette-Mail, Charleston, WV; by Staff report; 5/10/25, updated 5/12/25 A new thrift store has opened on Charleston's West Side to benefit West Virginia's largest hospice care agency. Heart to Home Charity Shop is run by more than 100 volunteers of HospiceCare, which is headquartered beside the thrift shop. ... [In] addition to providing revenue to be used for services for HospiceCare's patients and families, the store enables those wanting to give their time to HospiceCare, but are not ready for--or are uncomfortable with--direct patient care opportunities.

Frederick Health Hospice hires new director Longview News-Journal, Frederick, MD; by Frederick Health; 5/7/25 Frederick Health Hospice is excited to announce that Korey Cobb has joined the nonprofit organization as its new Director, only the third director since the hospice was founded in 1980. Frederick Health Hospice has served the Frederick community as a non-profit agency for more than four decades. The organization was one of the earliest hospices formed in the U.S. and has been providing compassionate care for patients since before the Medicare Hospice Benefit was made permanent by Congress in 1986. Heather Kirby, Vice President of Integrated Care Delivery & Chief Population Health Officer at Frederick Health, helped lead the search committee ... [and described,] "Korey prides himself on creating a positive team culture, a strong sense of community involvement, and volunteerism. ..."

[New Zealand] Nelson Airport Trees of Remembrance returns with new sponsorship tiers to support Nelson Tasman Hospice Nelson Tasman Hospice, Nelson, New Zealand; Press Release; 5/9/25 The much-loved Nelson Airport Trees of Remembrance activation is returning this holiday season, offering businesses a unique opportunity to give back to the community while boosting their brand visibility during the busiest travel period of the year. This year’s campaign introduces an exciting new structure with three sponsorship tiers—Gold, Silver, and Bronze—allowing even more businesses to take part in this heartwarming tradition that supports Nelson Tasman Hospice. The Trees of Remembrance campaign has been a cherished part of the Nelson Tasman community for over 30 years, offering individuals and businesses a meaningful way to honour loved ones while contributing to free hospice services. Sponsored Christmas trees will once again illuminate Nelson Airport from December 2025 through January 2026, spreading festive cheer to the thousands of locals and travellers passing through during the holiday season.Editor's note: Fall/Winter fund raising plans are surely underway for nonprofit hospices and foundations. What ideas does this article generate? What might you adapt for your community? 

Pine Tree Hospice hosts 29th Annual Variety Show The Piscataquis Observer - The Voice of Rural Maine, Dover-Foxcroft, ME; by Staff; 5/5/25 On a rainy, dreary Saturday in April, the volunteers of Pine Tree Hospice presented the group’s 29th Variety Show and created a little sunshine at the Center Theatre for the 100 attendees. The corps of volunteers ran the show from greeting attendees to taking tickets to selling tickets for the quilt raffle to running the first annual pie faffle. The Annual Variety Show, a major source of funding for the group’s volunteer-based non-medical support services, raised nearly $8,000.

Re-imagined Hospice Ball raises record funds for health care in the Northern Hills Black Hills Pioneer, Spearfish, SD; 5/6/25 More than $136,000 was raised during the first ever Monument Health Foundation event: A Night at the Derby. This event evolved from the success of the Northern Hills Hospice Ball which successfully supported health care in the Northern Hills for 27 years. A Night at the Derby, held on April 26 included themed games, raffles and bidding opportunities to help raise awareness, funds and support for hospice patients and their families. 

Hospice of Davidson County’s golf tournament raises over $20,000The Dispatch [NC]; by staff; 4/22/25 Hospice of Davidson County held its 16th annual golf tournament fundraiser on April 17 at Sapona Golf, Swim and Tennis Club and raised more than $20,000 for patients with serious illness and individuals seeking grief and bereavement counseling.

The Big Bend Hospice linen drive brings comfort to patients in rural communities: Addressing a critical need in underserved areas ABC WTXL-TV 27, Tallahassee/Monticello, FL; by Lentheus Chaney; 4/30/25 In Jefferson County, kindness sometimes comes in the form of cotton. Big Bend Hospice is collecting linens here to help patients face their final days with dignity. Big Bend Hospice just launched a linen drive. It's asking neighbors to donate new Twin XL-sized bed sheets. They'll be used for patients across Jefferson, Madison, and Taylor counties. The drive's goal is to ensure no one spends their final days without the comfort of clean sheets—something most of us take for granted. The  need is especially great in rural areas. According to state data, hospice use in parts of North Florida lags behind the statewide average—just 57%. That's compared to nearly 66% across Florida. That gap means fewer resources in the places that need them most.

Serving 'em hot at the Hospice House Crawfish Cook-Off NOLA.com, New Orleans, LA; by Andrew Canulette; 4/28/25 The 20th annual Hospice House Crawfish Cook-Off was as big a hit as it's ever been when thousands of people packed into Slidell's Fritchie Park on April 26 for the all-you-care-to-eat affair.  Turns out, no surprise, that folks in south Louisiana can eat a lot of crawfish. More than 40,000 pounds of mudbugs (that's 20 tons, y'all) were boiled up for the hungry crowds. Several dozen teams did their own boils, and the secrets in the seasoning, the soaking and all manner of surprises made each batch taste unique. Still, this was a down-home crawfish boil — the kind the people of St. Tammany Parish are accustomed to attending and one the teams in the Hospice House cook-off do so well.