Literature Review

Beacon Hill resident contributes to success of VNA Care’s annual Gala Patch, Beacon Hill, MA; by Deborah Corkum; 11/14/24 Sold-out Heroes in Health Care raised essential funds for home health and hospice care. VNA Care, the first organized visiting nurse association in the United States, raised $220,000 for patient care services during the sold-out annual Heroes in Health Care Gala at the Mandarin Oriental, Boston. Heroes in Health Care is VNA Care’s signature fundraising event and has raised nearly $4.5 million in essential funding for home health and hospice care in Massachusetts. 

Annual Golf Marathon raises $120K to benefit Hope Hospice The Independent, Livermore, CA; 11/14/24 Hope Hospice, a nonprofit that provides support services for patients with terminal illnesses and their caregivers, reported raising almost $120,000 during the 10th annual Hope 100 Golf Marathon last month at Castlewood Country Club in Pleasanton. Event organizers said 28 golfers took on the challenge of playing 100 holes in one day on the club’s Valley Course, while another 20 participated in an inaugural skills competition that included putting, trick shots and long drives. “The Hope Hospice team is deeply grateful to all the players, sponsors and donors who made this event a success,” said Jennifer Hansen, Hope Hospice senior vice president. 

Aroostook Hospice Foundation achieves $150,000 matching grant campaign goal The County, Presque Isle, ME; 11/13/24 The Aroostook Hospice Foundation is thrilled to announce the success of its recent Matching Grant Campaign, which raised an astounding $150,000 for the Aroostook House of Comfort. This achievement was made possible through the community’s generosity and a $75,000 match pledged by an anonymous donor. Launched in June, the campaign quickly gained momentum, with individuals and organizations coming together to meet the matching goal. These funds will directly support the Foundation’s mission to provide compassionate, inpatient hospice care when patient needs exceed what home hospice care can offer. Established in 2009 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aroostook Hospice Foundation was created to establish and sustain an inpatient hospice facility for the region. After years of dedicated fundraising and  community support, the Aroostook House of Comfort opened its doors in 2018, becoming one of only four inpatient hospice facilities in Maine. Since then, it has delivered quality end-of-life care to approximately 1,000 individuals and their caregivers in partnership with Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, a Medicare-certified hospice provider. Together, they ensure patients receive comfort, dignity and compassionate support on one’s journey through  hospice, serving both the patient and their caregivers.  

$1M state grant awarded to fund Erie’s first residential hospice center WJET Erie, Erie, PA; by Nicole Lee; 11/7/24 A state grant injects new life into a plan to build Erie County’s first residential hospice center. The palliative care clinic, which will be built in McKean Township, just received a $1 million state grant. Now, its planners are looking for community support to bring the plan to the finish line. “On Friday we got a call from Representative Banta saying that we got a $1 million RACP grant,” said Julia Strzalka, executive director of the Julia Hospice & Palliative Care. [Click here for Julia Hospice & Palliative Care.]

Three local eateries join Dining Out program for Hospice Awareness Month Olean Times Herald, Allegany, NY; by Olean Times Herald Staff; 11/4/24 HomeCare & Hospice announces its Dining Out for Hospice program this month includes three local restaurants joining the effort to support compassionate end-of-life care in the region. Throughout Hospice Awareness Month, patrons at Hometown Bar & Grill, Chipotle and Charlie’s can enjoy a great meal and make a meaningful difference by contributing to HomeCare & Hospice. “We’re excited to team up with these wonderful restaurants to bring our community together for a week of giving,” said Melissa Sullivan, HomeCare & Hospice CEO. “Dine out, enjoy great food and have an opportunity to support families in need — one meal at a time.” 

Meijer donates $10,000 in memory of longtime employee WoodTV.com, Algoma Township, MI; by Kyle Mitchell; 11/1/24 A longtime employee at the Rockford Meijer store who died earlier this year was honored Friday with a $10,000 donation made in her name. The store director presented a check to representatives of Faith Hospice in honor of Pat Julien. Julien, the mother of WOOD TV8 engineer Michael Julien, died in July following a battle with breast cancer. She worked at the Rockford Meijer for 15 years. The impact she made inspired the employees to select a charity for the store to support in her memory. ... The store selects a charity to donate to every year through the Meijer Team Gives program. This year, the employees wanted to do something in Pat Julien’s memory. The store originally planned to donate $5,000, but decided to donate the full $10,000 amount on behalf of the company, assistant store director Kurt Guarisco said. “We voted on that as a team within the store and what happened is we chose Faith Hospice,” Guarisco said. Editor's note: Click here for Faith Hospice, in Byron Center, Michigan.

Tidewater Rotary cleans, revitalizes outdoor spaces at Talbot Hospice The Star, Easton, MD; 11/1/24 Members of the Tidewater Rotary Club, along with their families and friends, recently gathered to revitalize the backyard patio and garden areas at Talbot Hospice. Over two Saturdays, volunteers transformed the space, giving it a fresh, renewed look. The project supported Talbot Hospice by enhancing outdoor spaces where residents and families can find peace and comfort. Efforts included removing poison ivy and brush, power washing structures, and repainting the pergola and wood fence. Patios connected to patient rooms, leading to the gardens, received newly built benches, minor repairs and a fresh coat of paint. Window trims were repainted, and outdoor furniture was power washed.  

Valparaiso American Legion Post 94 riders raise $12,500 for VNA Hospice of NWI NWI.Life, by VNA Hospice NWI; 10/29/24The Valparaiso American Legion Riders Post 94 held its inaugural Forever Our Heroes ride on August 10, 2024 with nearly 50 riders who stopped at American Legions in Michigan City, Kingsford Heights and Kouts. The ride raised $12,500 for the VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana in recognition of its We Honor Veterans program. A group of Legion Riders presented the check to the VNA Hospice on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at its administrative offices in Valparaiso. “The VNA Hospice is extremely grateful for this generous gift that helps us support even more veterans, not just those under our care but any who need additional assistance,” said Bob Franko, VNA Hospice president and CEO. The VNA Hospice has achieved We Honor Veterans Level 5 status through its national association for its commitment to veterans. Editor's note: Click here for the We Honor Veterans program by NHPCO, now The Alliance.

Senator Lorraine R. Inouye announces release of $200,000 for Hospice of Hilo Improvements Hawai'i State Senate; 10/22/24Senator Lorraine R. Inouye (District 1 – Hilo, Paukaʻa, Papaikou, Pepeʻekeo) is pleased to announce that Governor Josh Green has released $200,000 in capital improvement project Grant-in-Aid funds for the Hospice of Hilo. ... “This funding will significantly improve the facilities and services at Hospice of Hilo, ensuring they can continue to provide critical care to our community,” said Senator Lorraine R. Inouye. “Supporting organizations like Hospice of Hilo helps build a stronger, more compassionate future for Hawaiʻi ..."

Southern Tier Health helps HomeCare & Hospice, Total Senior Care on USDA grant Olean Times Herald, Olean, NY; by Kellen M. Quigley; 10/22/24 A collaboration between three local agencies looking out for the health and well-being of their clients is getting a modern technological boost thanks to a federal grant. The Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc. (STHCS) was recently awarded nearly $140,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Rural Utilities Service Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. This funding is meant to empower rural communities by leveraging advanced technology to connect residents and healthcare providers, overcoming the challenges of distance and low population density. Of the total grant, $114,606.80 was allocated to HomeCare & Hospice and Total Senior Care for state-of-the-art digital communication and remote learning tools, including high-definition displays, advanced cameras and integrated audio systems.

Hockey team helps with Hotcakes for Hospice at Oswego Elks Lodge Oswego County News Now, Oswego, NY; by Lauren Royce; 10/20/24 People poured into the Elks Lodge on West Fifth Street in Oswego Sunday morning, happy to buy a breakfast and enjoy some pancakes, eggs, bacon and other staples with friends and family. It was all for a good cause. The Friends of Hospice in Oswego County (FOHOC) hosted its sixth annual Hotcakes for Hospice breakfast with the help of the SUNY Oswego men's hockey team. For head coach Ed Gosek, it is a way to give back to the community while honoring the memory of his wife, Mary, who died in hospice care in 2017. ... The Lakers were outside holding signs by Bridge Street and inside helping serve food and clean tables for guests. ... Elena Twiss, executive director of FOHOC, said that bringing in the hockey team was a great way to bring the community together, and that the players and coaches have been a valuable resource all six years they've helped out.

Pink Ribbon Ride in Houlton raises over $9,000 for local hospice home WAGM-8, Presque Isle, ME; by Rothery Sullivan and Karri Triplett; 10/16/24 Over 64 Jeeps came out to participate in the annual Pink Ribbon Ride held in Houlton this past Sunday. The event consisted of a silent auction, raffle, and jeep ride throughout Southern Aroostook. The County Jeep Riders of Hope hosted the event to raise money for the Aroostook House of Comfort, which is a six-bed in-patient hospice home in Presque Isle. Abbey Clair, the executive director of Aroostook Hospice Foundation, says she is very grateful to have been chosen as this year’s charity.