PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Two major events — a golf tournament and a virtual gala — together raised more than $350,000 in September to benefit HopeHealth programs, a 10% increase over last year.
“A Celebration of Hope & Gratitude: Virtual Gala,” livestreamed on Sept. 9, raised $227,000 to benefit HopeHealth’s grief support programs — including one-on-one counseling, more than 20 different support groups, retreats and Camp BraveHeart for children who have lost a loved one. Proceeds from the virtual gala, along with gifts and grants from many donors, allow HopeHealth to offer all of these programs at no charge.
The virtual gala’s premier sponsor was Swipe for a Cause, a payment processing service based in Wickford, R.I. NBC 10 Anchor Mario Hilario served as host. The event was chaired by Christopher Marsella with Honorary Chairs Peter Karczmar and Cathy Lund.
The 30-minute program featured family stories, interviews and scenes of HopeHealth grief support staff and services. In addition, President & CEO Diana Franchitto and Chief Medical Officer Edward Martin presented the eighth annual HopeHealth Human Dignity Award to Dr. Angela C. Anderson, director of children’s integrative therapies, pain management and supportive care at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. The award recognized Anderson for her passion and deep commitment to caring for children with serious illness and their families.
The 2021 HopeHealth Golf Invitational, held Sept. 13 at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, raised $126,000. The event benefited The Hope Fund, which supports hospice patients who are uninsured or underinsured and cannot afford the cost of end-of-life care.
The tournament featured a day of golf, lunch and an evening reception on beautiful Narragansett Bay. HopeHealth Board of Directors Chair Keith Kelly served as event chair.
“We received tremendous support last year when we had to pivot to virtual because of the pandemic,” said HopeHealth Chief Philanthropy Officer Suzanne Fortier. “So many of our golf sponsors were thrilled to be able to get back on the course this year. The 2021 HopeHeath Golf Invitational had beautiful weather and just felt extra special.”
HopeHealth grief support programs and the Hope Fund are fully supported by philanthropic gifts from the community.
Watch HopeHealth “A Celebration of Hope & Gratitude: Virtual Gala” at HopeHealthCo.org/VirtualGala.
Watch highlights from the 2021 HopeHealth Golf Invitational:
If you have questions about any event, please call (401) 415-4206, or email Giving@HopeHealthCo.org.
About HopeHealth
For more than a century, HopeHealth has provided high quality, compassionate care to people in various stages of illness in communities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Its roots began in home care in 1908 and then in hospice in 1976, coming together as HopeHealth in 2011 providing home care, palliative care, and hospice care. As the second oldest hospice in the country and one of the largest nonprofit providers of palliative and hospice care in New England, HopeHealth has set the gold standard in serious illness and end-of-life care. HopeHealth is the major teaching affiliate for hospice and palliative care of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.