Literature Review

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. 

Hospice Buffalo begins $3.5M expansion at Cheektowaga campus  Buffalo Business First, Buffalo, NY; by Tracey Drury; 5/21/25 An end-of-life donation is funding an expansion at Hospice Buffalo's campus in Cheektowaga. Hospice Buffalo has begun a renovation at its Cheektowaga campus to create an education center. The Andrew J. & Mary Ann Dodges Center will include offices, conference rooms and educational space accessible through a dedicated entrance inside an existing 15,000-square-foot patient services building. The $3.5 million construction project includes renovating 6,000 square feet of underutilized space on the campus at 225 Como Park Blvd. Andrew Dodges, then 95, made a pledge of $6 million in 2023 to fund a center. Dodges was a Buffalo resident whose wife received services through the organization in the 1990s. A portion of the gift also funded the Andrew J. and Mary Ann Dodges fund to support hospice care for others in the community.

New palliative care unit at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield WWLP Springfield, MA; by Kayleigh Thomas; 5/15/25 Mercy Medical Center in Springfield has just opened its new Palliative Care Unit, the first in western Massachusetts. This unit is named after the late Andy Yee, a well-known local restaurant owner. It serves as a tribute to his legacy and dedication to the community. ... To honor his memory, Mercy Medical Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new palliative care unit named after him. “My dad is extraordinary. He always took care of others. He always showed up when it mattered most. And this space here, this unit embodies that spirit,” said Andy Yee’s daughter, Bella Yee. 

[United Kingdom] Wife to walk across island for late husband BBC News; 5/11/25 The wife of a gardener who died of cancer is preparing to walk across the Isle of Wight in his memory. Debs Goodenough will be taking part in the Walk the Wight challenge in aid of the Mountbatten Hospice. She said it was an opportunity to honour her husband Simon, while also supporting the hospice which cared for her and her family. ... Mr. Goodenough was a gardener known for his work on Ventnor Botanical Gardens, but he also created a garden for the hospice. ... Mrs. Goodenough will be walking 26.5miles (42.6km) across the island with her sons Rory and Jake. ... The annual Walk the Wight challenge has been running for 35 years and supports the hospice by raising money for patients and the families it cares for. More than 6,500 people are expected to take part, and Mrs. Goodenough has spent the past three months training for the event. ... "The day Simon died, we had a little walk and it was two miles, and I promised Simon I would support the hospice, and my sons said 'If you want to Walk the Wight we'll do it with you'."

[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? 

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. ..."

Tri-Cities Chaplaincy announces $3.5 million renovation of Kennewick Hospice House Apple Valley News Now, Kennewick, WA; by Dan Hanson; 5/6/25A place that has provided comfort and peace to terminally ill patients and their families for nearly three decades is getting a significant upgrade. Tri-Cities Chaplaincy has announced a $3.5 million renovation project for Hospice House in Kennewick, marking the first major renovation to the facility since it opened in 1996. The comprehensive renovation aims to modernize the region's only inpatient hospice facility while enhancing patient, family, and staff spaces. Construction is expected to last between four and six months. 

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. 

Safe Harbor Estate Law launches “Dignity Drive” to support Minnesota hospice patients during Elder Law Month The Luverne Journal, PR Underground; 5/1/25 In recognition of May as Elder Law Month, Safe Harbor Estate Law is proud to announce the launch of the Safe Harbor Dignity Drive, a community-wide campaign to collect clean, comfortable clothing and comfort items for hospice patients facing end-of-life care with limited resources. Inspired by conversations with their partners at St. Croix Hospice, Safe Harbor learned that many patients spend their final days without appropriate clothing—often due to significant weight loss, mobility challenges, or a lack of support. Soft, well-fitting clothing can provide warmth, dignity, and peace during an incredibly sacred time. “We believe everyone deserves to feel respected and cared for—especially in their final days,” said Margaret Barrett, founder of Safe Harbor Estate Law. “The Dignity Drive is our way of helping ensure no one spends those moments without the basic comfort of clean, cozy clothing.”

Art auction raises $800,000 for Hospice of the Valley City Sun Times, Phoenix, AZ; by Lin Sue Flood; 4/29/25 What a spectacular evening showcasing community generosity at Hospice of the Valley’s 2025 art auction: Aaha! Art. Food. Wine. A record $800,000 was raised to ensure care for those in need, including $300,000 to support New Song Center for Grieving Children. This compassionate Hospice of the Valley program provides grief support to families at no cost and has brought hope and healing to more than 15,000 individuals experiencing deep loss. “We are beyond grateful for this passionate support,” said Executive Director Debbie Shumway.

Hunterdon Health Auxiliary’s Splash of Sparkle raises $47,000 for Hunterdon Hospice Hunterdon Health, Flemington, NJ; Press Release; 4/22/25 On April 6th, the Hunterdon Health Auxiliary brought together supporters of Hunterdon Hospice for its signature event, Splash of Sparkle, held at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club. Guests gathered for an afternoon filled with bubbly, brunch, and giving back—raising $47,000 to support compassionate end-of-life care for patients and families across our region. ... One of the most meaningful moments of the afternoon came when Jean Hewens, a longtime friend of hospice, shared her family’s journey. Her husband, Dr. Jeremy Hewens, was a beloved family physician with Hunterdon Family Medicine at Delaware Valley for many years. ...

How Lower Cape Fear LifeCare built its Memory Care affiliate Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/22/25 Lower Cape Fear LifeCare built from the ground up a program dedicated to serving dementia patients. A growing number of operators have developed programs tailored to patients with specific diagnoses, providing specialized care tailored to their specific needs. Examples include dementia, heart failure and other cardiac conditions, as well as diseases of the lungs. At Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, the program started small and rapidly expanded. The North Carolina-based hospice provider six years ago launched a support group for dementia caregivers, called Memory Partners. This over time bloomed into a full-fledged dementia services subsidiary called LifeCare Memory Partners, Evan Dressel, director of strategy, development and innovation at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare said at the Hospice News ELEVATE conference in Orlando, Florida.

ECHO Health gifts $5 million to Quality of Life Campaign; Center for Community Engagement to be name Hospice of the Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH; Press Release; 4/10/25 Hospice of the Western Reserve has received a historic $5 million gift to its Quality of Life capital campaign from ECHO Health, the Westlake-based company founded by the late Bill Davis. This transformative contribution, the largest single gift in the organization’s history, will accelerate the completion of its new Hospice Care & Community Center on Cleveland’s Lake Erie shore. ... In recognition of this gift, the facility’s Center for Community Engagement will be named in honor of Bill Davis.