INDIANAPOLIS
– End-of-life care is an emotional and deeply personal odyssey for patients and
their families, who often find themselves strapped to find the desired
resources needed to comfortably complete life’s journey. They will soon have a
new place to turn to for the support they need.
A
long-awaited milestone was reached at the 46TH annual Chrysanthemum
Ball
(Sept. 28) hosted by Franciscan
St. Francis Health,
when it announced a significant funding goal had been achieved so that it might
move forward with its Hospice House project.
“For
the last two years we have aggressively ramped up our campaign to build a
free-standing hospice facility, complementing the exceptional home hospice and
palliative care services that we have provided for more than two decades to
4,000 families in south-central Indiana,” said Robert J. Brody, president and
chief executive officer for Franciscan St. Francis. “Tonight, I am pleased to
share with you that thanks to the matching dollars from Franciscan Alliance we
now have sufficient funds to break ground on Hospice House in spring 2014.”
Brody
also praised hospital employees and physicians for their contributions, which
amounted to nearly $3 million given the match, provided by the Mishawaka,
Ind.-based Franciscan
Alliance.
“As one of our core values states, ‘The gift of life is so
valued that each person is cared for with such joy, respect, dignity, fairness
and compassion so that he or she is aware of being loved’,” said Sister Jane
Marie Klein, OSF, chairperson of Franciscan Alliance Board of Trustees, who was
present for the announcement. “Whether nursing a patient back to health or caring for
them through the dying process – our system carries on Christ’s healing
and teaching ministries.”
Franciscan values and
its mission certainly have fueled the Hospice House project.
“Continuing Christ’s ministry in our
Franciscan tradition is the overarching purpose of the Franciscan
Alliance Foundation,” said Sister Aline Shultz, OSF, vice president of
development, marketing and public relations for Franciscan Alliance. “Achieving
this fundraising goal is a testament to our commitment to finish the campaign
in its entirety and to serve patients and families in a way consistent with our
values.”
Total
gifts, pledges and matching funds are propelling the campaign to its estimated
$12 million total cost. Campaign leaders added that much work remains on
raising the final $3 million to cover all the costs of construction and to
establish a small endowment to sustain Hospice House well into the future.
“This
is a night to celebrate because without you there would be no Hospice House,”
said Steven J. Beck, who chairs Franciscan
Alliance Foundation St. Francis Health. “But with your support, hundreds
of families for whom hospice care in the home is not an option, will now
receive compassionate end-of-life care in a peaceful, comfortable residential
setting.”
 |
| CHAPEL |
 |
| COMMON AREA FOR FAMILIES |
 |
| PATIENT ROOM |
 |
| PRAYER GARDEN |
