Testimonials
"It is my pleasure to make a contribution of $3,000 to the National Hospice Foundation. My mother, Frances Tudge, was cared for by Evercare Hospice in Sterling, Virginia, for seven months before she passed away in September of 2009.
As her daughter, it was hard for me to see my mother's health deteriorate as she battled her terminal illness. While I know the weeks and months ahead of me will continue to be difficult in the grief of her loss, I am so thankful for all of the caring hospice staff who came in and took care of her, ensuring all her needs were met. While they were tasked with caring for her, they cared for me as well. I felt incredible comfort knowing she was in such good hands.
I initially made my gift to Evercare Hospice, but they have an agreement with NHF that donations go toward work advancing hospice at the national level. I was happy to make my gift wherever it can help the most."
--Carolyn Follin, Sterling, VA
“In 2007, when I was 65, I rode my bicycle for 6,500 miles from Florida to Maine and designated NHF as one of the charities to benefit from my “Ride for Three Reasons.” My goal was to raise $65,000 per charity, but I actually doubled that amount! I chose NHF because my goal was to raise public awareness about hospice, and the national organization was the best way to do that. If you want to read more about the Ride for Three Reasons, check out my website at www.3reasons.org. When people ask me why I did the ride, I say, ‘What do we do with the rest of our life? Make a difference and pay back to the community. This is the small way to do my part.’ I chose hospice because I was touched by hospice angels with my mother’s passing.”
--Bob Lee, Barrington, Illinois
“When my mother, Susan Rumble Sims (June 12, 1940- February 10, 2009) passed away we chose NHF to receive memorial donations. My mom had worked with a local hospice as a fundraiser and my grandmother had been a hospice volunteer. We could have designated a cancer group to received memorial donations but the hospice component was very important because the end point is so much larger than anyone can deal with by themselves. Hospice provides comfort and support to families during a critical, emotional time. We decided to designate a national hospice organization because we are pro advocacy – a national group is an umbrella organization that supports large and small hospices equally.”
--Kraemer Sims Becker, Westport, CT
“Every month we write out a check to the National Hospice Foundation, when we pay all our other bills. We support three organizations this way. We chose NHF because hospice has helped so many family and friends over the years, in particular Stan’s mother.”
--Stan and Sandra Phinney, Reeds Spring, Missouri
“My annual fund donation to NHF is very meaningful to me. My first position at NHPCO was in the accounting department that supports NHF, NHPCO, and FHSSA. In that work, I saw the incredible tasks being done through FHSSA in Tanzania. It’s inspiring to me, the extraordinary resourcefulness shown by our Tanzanian partners, how they use those dollars and how far they make them stretch. I know NHF helped win the government grant that supports that work. My investment in NHF makes me feel part of the larger mission of our family of organizations—and that’s incredibly fulfilling.”
--Donald Cook, Membership Development Coordinator, NHPCO
“My gift to the FHSSA Fund was the perfect way for me to honor a dear friend in the music industry who has given so much to me. When I was 16, my mom passed away from cancer. My two siblings and I were encouraged to not discuss our emotions and instead to “move on.” I have come to realize the long-term effects of following that advice. Many years later, my godmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and received hospice care. That’s when I saw the difference hospice can make in how a family copes with illness and loss. Seven years ago, my godmother’s son—who was also my closest friend—was diagnosed with a terminal illness. And for three weeks, I watched hospice work again, this time helping gather family members from many countries for his final moments. I was glad to give to hospice in Africa because my daughter spent time participating in a cultural exchange in Tanzania at an AIDS orphanage.”
--Kristina Flanagan, San Francisco, CA
