HOSPICE HAPPENINGS - June 2016

 

   In This Issue:  
   Hearts of Gold           Help us Win $1,000
   Upcoming Events      Contact Us 
A True Visionaryvisionary
Garnet Ireland first phoned Pilgrims Hospice 15 years ago, to ask about our Sunflower Luncheon. He wanted to attend but was blind and couldn't drive.... So began a 10-year tradition where a member of Pilgrims Hospice, from a volunteer to the executive director, drove him to the event.
Five years before he died, Garnet became a client of the Compassionate Companions program, enjoying weekly visits from one of the organization's 100 volunteers. According to Deb Birkett, Executive Director for Pilgrims Hospice: "We became his family. We offered him the chance to remain independent a lot longer."

Before he died in 2014, Garnet and his wife Jean Ireland, worked closely with the Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF), to plan their support for the organizations most important to them - including Pilgrims Hospice.
A True Visionary, is Garnet's story, told by Alex Migdal in this summer's Legacy in Action, published by the ECF.
We are so grateful for the generous hearts and vision of Garnet and Jean Ireland. As Migdal points out: "Garnet Ireland's endowment fund means he can provide permanent, on-going support to an organization that was incredibly important to him."
His legacy to Pilgrims Hospice is truly a gift that keeps on giving.
For information about legacy giving, see More Ways to Give on our website, or contact Deb Birkett at 780-413-9801. To learn more about opening a fund with ECF, visit their Donor Services page.
Help us Win $10,000!win
From now until June 30, make a minimum donation of $3 to Pilgrims Hospice Society, through the Great Canadian Giving Challenge, and we will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win $10,000!
 
Think of the individuals and families your donation will help - those facing the end of life, their caregivers and those who are grieving - and the sustained support for our programs if we are the winner!
 
Click on the image above to TAKE THE CHALLEGE NOW!
Thank You!
The more donations we receive, the greater our chances of winning!
Mark you calendars for the
14th Annual
Dr. Helen Hays Sunflower Luncheon
Friday, September 16
This popular "friend-raiser" will be held in the Empire Ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, 11:30am - 1:30pm. More details coming soon.
Contact Us contact
For more information about any of our services, for a loved one or for yourself, fill out our Service Request Form here or call us at 780-413-9801. 
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  Expanding Expressive Artsarts 
The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) has an outstanding commitment to help make the community a great place to live and work. With a particular interest in supporting the education, health and wellness of youth throughout Oil Country, the EOCF has awarded Pilgrims Hospice $30,000 to help expand our Expressive Arts Program.
Helping a bereaved child or teen is the epitome of good preventive mental, physical and spiritual health care.
 
Our program offers a preventative approach to grief, tackling the current experience with each individual and family, and at the same time, giving tools and resources to help with future losses.
 
Children, teens and even adults who are well supported through their unique grief journey, are better equipped to return to work, school and daily life than those who do not receive the education, compassion and support that is offered through our program.
 
Art expressions such as drawing, painting and music offer a way through which young people can tell their stories of loss, grief and mourning - a means to both contain and explore powerful and confusing emotions.         
 
In the past year, we have experienced a 28% increase in the need for counselling and a 30% increase in the use of our programs. We are extremely grateful to the EOCF for their assistance in the expansion of our services, so we can keep up with this increased demand.
 
The generous funding from the EOCF will allow more grieving children, youth and their families (including those who would otherwise be unable to afford our services), to access our unique and essential bereavement care - including counselling, retreats and daycamps - as well as provide essential art supplies and resources to support the programs.
Hearts of Goldgold
We have solid proof that members of the Alberta Blue Cross employee-led charity, Hearts of Blue, have Hearts of Gold!

Not only have they generously donated $1,000 towards organic meat, eggs & proteins for our Day Program lunches, but they also gathered 21 volunteers who gave up their Sunday to give our sadly neglected yard an "extreme makeover".

Donating 105 hours of volunteer time,
we are naming Hearts of Blue our
"Honorary" Volunteers of the Month!
Thank you for your Hearts of Gold!
9 th Annual Pilgrims Hospice golfCharity Golf Classic
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Edmonton Petroleum Golf & Country Club 

Our Funding
In 2015 we received 12.9% of our funding from the government, through our Partnership with Alberta Health Services. Individual and Corporate Donations, Foundation Grants and our Fundraising efforts are vital to our existence.
 
Thank you for generously supporting our programs and services with your attendance at our Special Events and your Donations to Pilgrims Hospice.
 
Your generosity ensures 
COMPASSION FOR THE JOURNEY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES   

 

Please consider making a secure donation here.

Thank You!