Allegiance Health, Allegiance Hospice Launch Capital Campaign
November 14, 2008
Jackson, Mich. — Allegiance Health/Allegiance Hospice today publicly announced its first philanthropic campaign--providing support for the area’s new Hospice Home, located at 2150 Kingsbrooke Drive in Jackson. The $2.3 million campaign, titled Comfort, Dignity & Life, will expand and sustain the Hospice Home’s patient care, bereavement support and volunteer training programs and services. Funds will also provide hospice care to low-income families not covered by private insurance or Medicaid/Medicare.
Opened in July 2007, the 20-bed Hospice Home has provided end-of-life care to more than 130 area individuals. The facility is Jackson County’s first and only live-in hospice, devoted exclusively to providing a safe and supportive residence for terminally ill individuals. The Hospice Home offers 24-hour care supported by a highly qualified team of medical and social service professionals, spiritual coordinators, therapists, counselors and volunteers. Hospice Home also provides support services to families and significant friends.
The public announcement of Comfort, Dignity & Life represents the public phase of the Hospice Home campaign. In its first phase, more than $1.6 million was raised from private, corporate and foundation contributions toward the campaign’s total goal of $2.3 million.
"As a mission-based, community health system, our support of the Hospice Home is a clear extension of our services in the community," said Georgia Fojtasek, President and CEO of Allegiance Health. "Today, we are asking individuals in Jackson and surrounding communities to further partner with us to support this important project."
The announcement of the public phase of the Comfort, Dignity & Life Campaign marks a milestone for Allegiance Health and Allegiance Hospice in achieving its goal. To acknowledge this success, William Kiel, vice president of Development for Allegiance Health, stated, "We’re delighted to have reached this stage in the Hospice Home Campaign, and we’re excited to extend an opportunity to our community to become involved."
The Comfort, Dignity & Life Campaign committee includes Chairs Marcia MacCready and Dick Walicki; Honorary Chairs Grant Brown, Al Glick, Bernard Levy and the late Jim Winter; and Executive Committee members David Craft, Carl Glick, Ron Griffith, John Kudner, Beth Kuntzleman, Carlene Walz Lefere, Tim Levy and Patricia Short.
To date, 62 individuals and families have contributed to the Campaign. It has also been supported by Jackson area foundations and corporations including the Samuel Higby Camp Foundation, the Jackson County Community Foundation, Consumers Energy, Louis Glick Trust, Alro Steel Foundation, the Hurst Foundation and more.
For more information about the Hospice Home or to make a contribution to the Comfort, Dignity & Life Campaign, please contact LeeAnn Kendall at (517) 841-6982.