Literature Review

[England] Mother, 79, excited to skydive for hospice BBC; by Susie Rack; 3/22/25 A 79-year-old woman planning a skydive to raise funds for a hospice charity that is caring for her friend said she was not "scared at all." Adventure-seeker Shirley Warnes, from Rugby, Warwickshire, who said she loved rock climbing and helicopter rides, described the jump for Myton Hospice as a "bucket-list challenge." ... She has already raised more than £600 for the charity, which supports people with life-limiting illnesses across Coventry and Warwickshire, to thank them for providing respite care for her friend Gordon, who has motor neurone disease.

$7,500 to Hospice of the Valley; $7,500 to Northland Hospice and Palliative CareAZCentral.com, Arizona Republic, "Here are the Season for Sharing grantees for 2024-25 who received $1.3M in grant funds"; by Silvia Solis; 3/23/25The 2024-25 Season for Sharing campaign brought in more than $1.3 million, which went to 156 Arizona nonprofit agencies across Arizona. [Among the grantees were two hospice agencies.]

Hospice of the Panhandle gets van through grant The Journal, Martinsburg, WV; 3/19/25 As a result of a generous state Local Economic Development Assistance (LEDA) grant secured by state Sens. Jason Barrett and Patricia Rucker and former state Sen. Craig Blair, Hospice of the Panhandle was able to purchase this 2025 Toyota Sienna custom van, designed for non-emergency transportation. Since coming into service on March 1, the van has transported 15 patients to and from area hospitals to Hospice’s Inpatient Facility and from the IPF to patients’ homes. “We are so excited to provide this much-needed service,” said CEO Nikki Bigiarelli. “It assures that we can get patients into hospice care, to our facilty and to their homes safely and quickly.”  

Nearly $20K awarded at 100+ Harbor Women Who Care event The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA; by Jerry Knaak; 3/13/25 After listening to three impassioned speeches at the packed house at the Hoquiam Elks Lodge No. 1082 Tuesday evening, nearly 170 donors at the seventh 100+ Harbor Women Who Care giving event ... [awarded] a grand total of $19,020 in donations to Harbors Home Health & Hospice.

HomeCare & Hospice celebrates successful bouquet sale fundraiser Olena Times Herald, Allegany, NY; by Olean Times Herald staff; 3/11/25The HomeCare & Hospice Foundation is thrilled to announce the overwhelming success of its annual bouquet sale fundraiser, with community members across the region showing their generosity and support. This year’s event saw an impressive 1,150 18-stem bouquets and 276 nine-stem bouquets sold, helping to raise vital funds for hospice services. Sales were strong in both Genesee and Wyoming counties in the northern region and Allegany and Cattaraugus counties to the south. The north accounted for 670 18-stem and 60 nine-stem bouquets, while the south region contributed 480 18-stem and 216 nine-stem bouquets. ... Although this fundraiser supports the foundation, the exposure gained through the hospice bouquet sales far exceeds the funds raised. Editor's note: This bouquet fundraiser paired with Valentine's Day, providing meaningful, affordable, timely gifts for anyone (i.e., not just red roses).

The staging of 'The Story of My Life' at Asbury Memorial filled with serendipitous moments Savannah Morning News, Savannah, GA; by Amy Paige Condon; 3/6/25 ... [Ray] Ellis, a retired music and drama teacher who works now as a caregiver, and fellow church member Dottie Kluttz, a retired hospice nurse, were hanging decorations in Asbury Memorial’s Social Hall. Ellis shared how his dream of producing “The Story of My Life” was back on his mind … A former hospice nurse, Kluttz founded Savannah Hospice’s Story Keeping program in 2001 as a way for people near the end of their lives to share the story of their lives. …  [Click on the title’s link to read the serendipitous, synergistic encounters that unfolded, resulting in shows March 28, 29, 30.] [Upon underwriting for production costs,] Ellis proposed that ticket sales for the musical could serve as a fundraiser for Savannah Hospice’s Story Keeping program and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research—a nonprofit near and dear to Ellis, who was diagnosed about three years ago with the progressive brain disease that causes tremors, stiffness and balance problems. … Stage and film actor Mark Rand, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s around the same time as Ellis, agreed to portray Thomas to Ellis’s Alvin—even after Rand thought he would never perform again. …

Annual pancake supper raises 6k for United Hospice ServiceThumbnet.net; by Chambray Anaman; 3/5/25 The Bown City Interact Club proudly presented a check for $6,200 to United Hospice Service of Aspire Rural Health System following the success of their 35th Annual Hospice Pancake Supper. The event, held in partnership with the Brown City Rotary Club, welcomed approximately 200 attendees, all coming together in support of compassionate end-of-life care.

[Scotland, UK] ‘There’s still hope and joy to be had’: Art adds colour to end-of-life hospice care The Sunday Post; by Paul English; 3/2/25 For Alison Couston, hope is as simple as a brush stroke. ... Alison might have been forgiven for abandoning her creative energies following a devastating diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) last year. ... Alison’s speech, mobility, balance and co-ordination have been affected in the period since her diagnosis. But rather than giving up, the Glasgow theatre producer is still pushing creative boundaries. ... Now Alison is herself receiving the benefit of artistic practice at a challenging time as a weekly visitor to the art room at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park. ... “Because of her diagnosis, she has certain limitations now and we had to work together to overcome those. She has been painting with her non-dominant hand and has embraced a more abstract expressive approach.” ... Alison’s paintings are now being gathered together for a book ... Alison said: “The book was my idea first of all as a way to raise money for the hospice. I thought if I sold my paintings in book form it would encourage more donations. 

VNA Hospice NWI celebrates staff, volunteers and community at annual dinner banquet NWI.Life; by Garrett Spoor; 3/4/25 For more than half a century, VNA Hospice NWI has been assisting seniors in Northwest Indiana with hospice care and the Meals on Wheels program. The organization hosted its Annual Dinner and Awards banquet on Monday, March 3, ... “The big purpose of the annual dinner is to thank all the people who made last year possible,” [Maria Galka, director of development] said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to show our appreciation for the staff, volunteers and our supporters. We present our annual report from the past fiscal year and look forward to what's coming in the new year.” ... VNA Hospice NWI was presented with a check for $32,798 from Don Quijote Restaurante to support VNA Meals on Wheels. The Legion Riders Post #94 provided a check for $12,500 for the VNA Hospice NWI. The dinner presented plenty of awards and scholarships to recognize some of the attendees ...Editor's note: What appreciation events and awards/recognitions do your organization regularly provide for your employes, volunteers, and community? Click on this article's title to explore the scope of this organization's highly valued Annual Dinner and Awards. When you have events such as these, remember to take provide "take-out" food for your employees who are duty elsewhere, like your on-call office and hospice inpatient care.

Here's how the federal funding freeze is impacting Kodiak organizations KMXT, Kodiak, AL; by Davis Hovey; 2/28/25 Billions of dollars in federal funding going to Alaska nonprofits and other entities are in jeopardy after a funding freeze implemented by the Trump administration. The fallout in Kodiak is impacting domestic violence shelters, agriculture programs and many other organizations. ... And then there are indirect impacts. For example, Hospice & Palliative Care of Kodiak relies partially on money from entities who have had their funding frozen. Hospice is a non-medical entity and the only one providing end-of-life services for those experiencing serious illness, death and bereavement in Kodiak. Executive director Diane Ibarra explained the organization’s funding structure during a local public affairs show, ... "So although we’re not directly reliant on federal funds, the people that often donate to us are. So if federal funding goes out the window, there goes our funding," Ibarra explained.

'Dear God, I need help on this one': How a prayer from Hildegard House's founder was answered ABC News WHAS-11, Louisville, KY; by Doug Proffitt; 2/27/25 Up from the dirt of an 1800's camelback style house on Story Avenue, in Louisville’s Butchertown neighborhood, Karen Cassidy has a plan. "We’re standing on the original dirt floor of the house, that’s the way they built things," she said. She's the former nurse who founded the Hildegard House 11 years ago. Hildegard is a place for the terminally ill to die in peace. With three private bedrooms and around the clock care, it’s a peaceful haven for people who have no home, or loved ones to care for them, so that they may die with dignity.  ... It is funded successfully and solely by both private donations and foundations. Now, in the new space, the plan is to build a refuge called the "Center for Care Giver Education" at the Story Avenue location. “This is for caregivers that are at home trying to maintain their loved ones at home," Cassidy said. ... At the new center they will teach families the basics. ... The owners of the historic Story Avenue house helped by cutting her a deal. She says they told her they would sell it to her $100,000 less than what they put it on the market for. Donations from foundations helped her buy the house with cash. But then, she got estimates for the renovation and restoration totaling $450,000. “I said 'dear God, I need help on this one,'” Cassidy said. Then God, from that prayer, appeared in a most modern way. ... “Two weeks later I got an email from an attorney who said, ‘Can you meet me for lunch? Somebody has left their estate to Hildegard House,'" she told WHAS11 News. "It was $450,000. That did it!” The out-of-the-heavens donation means they are funding the renovation, top to bottom with cash. Nothing will be owed. Cassidy later learned why that money came her way. “We had cared for someone’s mother and they were so grateful,” she said. Editor's note: I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors of the Hildegard House. I continue to be amazed at the profound care and superb systems envisioned, implemented and moved forward by Karen Cassidy, her staff, 80+ volunteers, the Board, and community support.

Hospice of the Piedmont offers discount book, conversation starters for family and friends Augusta Free Press, Waynesboro, VA; by Crystal Graham; 2/26/25 Hospice of the Piedmont has your ticket to discounts at restaurants, theaters, wineries and breweries as well as advice for starting a meaningful conversation with loved ones. ... The printed coupon book offers buy-one-get-one-free entrees, free theater tickets and half price wine tastings. It also includes thoughtful conversation starters designed to spark meaningful discussions with family and friends about life and its final journey. “So much of life happens around the dinner table, at a winery with friends or on a night out at the theater,” said Jenn Downs, chief marketing and development officer at HOP. “We wanted to give people a way to enjoy those experiences while encouraging people to have the kinds of conversations that truly matter.” Editor's note: Applause to Hospice of the Piedmont for this creative, engaging integration of community partnerships (with restaurants, theaters, etc.), hospice fund-raising, and catalyst for meaningful, potentially life-changing dialogues.