Twelve community women recently joined together as founding members of Empath Health’s Women’s Giving Network. Most of the women attended their first annual meeting and awarded $9,000 in grants to four Empath Health programs, as well as donated extra money in support of two more programs.
The founding group is: Pattie Meek, Jamie Broome, Arlene Cohen, Debbie Amrhein, Gerry Goldhammer, Deborah Nicklaus, Katie Pemble, Susan Rooth, Fran Rinna, Sandy Miller, Kathy Wilder and Joan McCreary.
The Empath Health Women’s Giving Network is a philanthropic group that supports the members of Empath Health, including Suncoast Hospice, that focuses on care and support for those dealing with advanced or chronic illnesses. Members join for a minimum of two years and donate a minimum of $1,000 yearly.
Fourteen proposals were presented and four projects were funded for: supplies for memory boxes and burial services through Empath Community Health’s Perinatal Loss program; the Healing Hearts Grief Camp, specifically for African-American children who unexpectedly lost family members; bladder scanners used to help hospice patients at Suncoast Hospice Care Centers; and shopping carts for Suncoast Hospice Resale Shoppes. Additional funding was designated for aromatherapy start-up kits for hospice patients and Suncoast PACE participants.
Suncoast Hospice Foundation Vice President of Philanthropy Kathy Rabon said, “When we formed this group, we had four things in mind – provide education on the complexities of chronic and advanced illnesses and our healthcare organization; have ambassadors; create an environment of empowerment; and give money to programs that have no reimbursed sources.”
Rabon said the group hopes to expand to 25 members in 2018 and ultimately 50 members. For more information on joining the group, call Carla Mattern, director of philanthropy at (727) 523-3454 or email CarlaMattern@EmpathHealth.org.
About Suncoast Hospice Foundation
The Suncoast Hospice Foundation is a nonprofit organization financially supporting the mission and vision of Empath Health and its members. As a member of Empath Health, the Foundation’s focus, is ensuring resources are available to those served today and into the future. For more information go to SuncoastHospiceFoundation.org.