Literature Review

Nancy Streber Memorial Golf Classic continues record-breaking fundraising for McLaren Hospice myfenton.com, Fenton, MI; Press Release; 6/13/25 The 28th Annual Memorial Golf Classic, held on May 10 at Heather Hills Golf Course in Romeo, Michigan, raised more than $15,000 in support of McLaren Hospice’s end-of-life care services—surpassing its previous fundraising record set in 2024. Founded by Dave Streber and his family, the event honors the memory of his mother, Nancy, and the compassionate care her father received as a McLaren patient. This year’s outing welcomed 144 participants, making it one of the largest and most successful events in the tournament’s history.

Corby boy, 10, set for Arctic trek in tribute to fatherBBC News, by Kate Bradbrook & Brian Farmer; 2/2/24, published in our newsletter 2/2/24 and 12/24/24A 10-year-old boy once told he might never walk can look forward to days of "wonder" as he prepares to trek in the Arctic in memory of his late father. Caeden, who has cerebral palsy, was born 12 weeks early. But Caeden, of Corby, Northamptonshire, has climbed Ben Nevis and is now set to meet the Arctic challenge. Mountain guide John Cousins said the "biggest danger in such conditions comes from the cold". Caeden is due to travel to Sweden on Monday with mother Lisa, brother Ashton, 12, and sister Khya, 14.

Quality of life while dying: Cutting edge hospice center opening in Colorado Springs NBC KOAA-5, Colorado Springs, CO; by Bill Folsom; 6/10/25 A major improvement to hospice care is coming to Colorado Springs. “This facility really does meet a need that is not met any other way,” said Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care, President Dawn Darvalics. Over the next couple of weeks the non-profit Pikes Peak Hospice is opening the only dedicated hospice inpatient care center in Colorado Springs. ... “Early in 2017 my wife Sarah was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, ...” said Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, Board of Trustees Chair, Michael Healy. ... He says his family would have benefited from this new cutting-edge facility. It goes beyond medicine. It includes things like gardens, homey gathering spaces, an area dedicated to veteran support, a chapel, a place for kids, and a family style kitchen. ... Plaques around the building show the many donors helping raise the $8.5 million goal the Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation is still working to complete.

2,200 Walk to Remember those who have passed away Cleveland Jewish News; by Kirsten Beard; 6/9/25 About 2,200 people attended the 14th annual Walk to Remember with the Hospice of the Western Reserve on June 8 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. This event offered a meaningful way to celebrate life, to honor the memory of loved ones and support care that brings comfort and dignity for those facing serious illness. “The Hospice Walk to Remember is both our most important fundraiser of the year, but it’s also a really important time for families to come together and remember their loved ones that aren’t with us anymore, ...” Bill Finn, president and CEO of Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland, told the Cleveland Jewish News. Gary Isakov, board member of Hospice Western Reserve, told the CJN while this is a fundraising event, it’s more about “bringing people together.”

Sacramento hospice for terminally ill homeless people to open after decade-long effort Sacramento Business Journal; by Chris Campbell; 6/9/25 A new hospice facility in Sacramento will open its doors to terminally ill homeless people on June 18. Joshua's House Hospice ... will provide end-of-life care for up to 15 residents. The project, a decade in the making, was funded by more than $3.5 million in contributions from individual donors, local foundations, the city of Sacramento and Sacramento County. "This project began with simple but profound conversations I had with people living on the streets," said Marlene Von Fredericks-Fitzwater, founder and CEO of Joshua's House. "They weren't afraid of dying, they were afraid of dying alone." The facility consists of six residential units, each approximately 670 square feet ...

Missoula community celebrates opening of Hope Hospice Center NBC-KULR, NonStop Local Billings, MT / Missoula, MT; by Taylor Richardson; 6/3/25 The Hope Hospice Center celebrated its opening with a ceremony in Missoula, marking a significant milestone for elder care in Western Montana. The new facility will provide critical end-of-life care for people across the region. The state-of-the-art center spans 15,200 square feet and offers 24-hour end-of-life services. It includes 12 private patient rooms, spaces for family visits, and areas for religious and cultural practices. Amanda Yeoman Melro, Executive Director of Partners Hope Foundation, expressed her excitement about the center. "I think it has exceeded our wildest dreams of what a hospice center could possibly be," she said. The facility was made possible through community fundraising efforts led by the Partners Hope Foundation, which raised more than $15 million. 

[United Kingdom] Group treks Great Wall of China to raise £85k BBC News; by Emma Petrie; 5/31/25 A group of people who trekked along the Great Wall of China have raised more than £85,000 in support of a hospice. The team took on the challenge to fundraise for Dove House Hospice, which is a charity that provides respite and end-of-life care for people in Hull and East Yorkshire. The hospice warned they were facing a funding shortfall in April due to rising costs. ... Twenty people signed up for the site's latest fundraising challenge and set off for China 17 May, walking a 31-mile (50km) route along the Great Wall. Upon her return, Ms. [Ruth] Scott said: "It's not an easy walk, incredibly steep in places, ... The views are just unbelievable. You can't comprehend."

Nonprofit participates in ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Coeur d'Alene / Post Falls Press, Coeur d'Alene, ID; 5/31/25 Hospice of North Idaho took the plunge this week after being nominated by Kootenai Health to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, a viral campaign aimed at raising awareness and funds to fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. In a video on social media, Hospice of North Idaho’s Leadership Team and staff sat front and center Wednesday as team members gathered, cheered and doused them with buckets of ice-cold water all in the name of a great cause, Hospice of North Idaho shared in a Friday news release. ... “Hospice of North Idaho is proud to take part in this movement and show our support for those affected by ALS,” Megan Ryan, communications specialist at Hospice of North Idaho.

Hospice El Paso to receive over $100K from Marathon Petroleum Corporation KTSM, El Paso, TX; Press Release; 5/28/25 Hospice El Paso will receive a $174,000 donation from Marathon Petroleum Corporation this week, which includes the gift of a fully equipped ambulance to support the organization’s patient transportation needs. The donation will be held on Thursday, May 29, the organization said. ... The donation will enable the organization to “provide timely and compassionate transportation for patients requiring specialized end-of-life care, ensuring they receive the support they need with dignity and comfort,” read the news release by the organization. ... “We are deeply grateful to Marathon Petroleum for their unwavering commitment to our community,” Dr. Jim Voiland, CEO of Hospice El Paso, said.

85-year-old philanthropist has quietly given millions to health causes in Bellingham  Cascadia Daily News, Bellingham, WA; by Charlotte Alden; 5/22/25Amy Chan Wolsdorf, former day trader, has donated funds for a new dementia center, Amy's Place. Amy Chan Wolsdorf gets up at 2 a.m. every morning, eats breakfast, preps her meals for the day and goes to the gym. Then, she checks the stock market. Wolsdorf, 85, is a self-taught stock market whiz who has amassed her wealth with smart investments, including in Microsoft, she said. Standing at 4 feet, 8 inches, the slight, gray-haired woman from Hong Kong doesn’t match the stereotypical image of a stock trader. ... Since she began accumulating her fortune, Wolsdorf hasn’t held onto it for herself: She’s given much of it away. ... In 2018, she was honored as PeaceHealth’s Philanthropist of the Year, after nearly 20 years of donations and 45 “significant gifts” at the time. She donated to cancer research, cardiovascular services, palliative care, women’s and children’s services, and more, totaling around $2.4 million in donations, according to PeaceHealth. ... [The article also mentions Whatcom Hospice in Belllingham.]

Securing philanthropic support for palliative care Hospice News; by Markisan Naso; 5/21/25 Fundraising has long been a necessity for many nonprofit organizations to provide palliative care programs. Currently, Medicare payment for palliative care only covers physician or licensed independent practitioner services and does not support the full range of interdisciplinary care, involving nurses, chaplains, aides and social workers. This shortage of funds has made community-based palliative care into a loss leader for many organizations. Palliative care is among the most “underfunded” services in the health care continuum, according to Deborah Johnson, chief philanthropy officer at Empath Health, a large non-profit post-acute care organization in Florida.

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.