For decades, Center for Hospice Care has focused on how best to provide the highest quality of care. That’s exactly why on Wednesday, September 27, Center for Hospice Care kicked off a brand-new fundraising campaign with its very first Vegas Vibes event. People from all over the community gathered at Plymouth’s one and only Rees Theatre for an unforgettable evening of wonderful company, joyful entertainment, and, most importantly, plenty of charitable giving.
Center for Hospice Care has cared for patients in the Plymouth area for over 28 years. Over those years, the need for quality hospice care has only continued to grow, so the organization decided it was time to open up a larger facility and start a new fundraising campaign so that it could serve even more patients.
“We provide care to everyone seeking hospice care, regardless of their ability to pay. That’s a promise that we made 43 years ago. Our focus is on enhancing our ability to care for patients in Marshall County and surrounding areas,” said Chris Taelman, chief development officer of Hospice Foundation, which is the foundation dedicated to fundraising on behalf of Center for Hospice Care.
There was no better way to celebrate this achievement than with a one-of-a-kind Vegas Vibes fundraiser. Between a unique venue, a delicious meal, a hilarious comedy show, and an incredible jazz band performance there was something for everyone to enjoy.
“This is such a great building that was built to be a movie theater. When we took a tour of The Rees, we were convinced that it was a perfect fit for our event.” said Taelman.
The Center for Hospice Care team was excited to see so many people come out and support the cause.
“This is wonderful. We’ve had a great response, and we’re thrilled to be hosting our friends and supporters from the Plymouth area tonight,” said Taelman.
The community was just as thrilled to have the opportunity to take part in such a meaningful affair. Danny Lerman, the event’s lead musician, was so touched by everything Center for Hospice Care has done that he even offered to let the organization use his new song for the theme of its campaign.
“What they do is all about love. It’s about the love that people need on their last days and their loved ones having a nice place to be with them. I’m proud and honored to help them fundraise for their great cause,” said Lerman.
Lerman wasn’t the only one who was touched. Brett Walkow, the comedian for the night’s event, did a tour of Center of Hospice Care’s new facility before the event. He was absolutely blown away by all it had to offer.
“The staff at Center for Hospice Care ensure that people have the very best quality of living even at the end of their life. You can tell they’ve taken such care in creating a comforting environment. I even noticed that the rooms have patios overlooking a lake, and they made the doorways to the patios gigantic so they could wheel the patients’ beds out to the patio and let them enjoy that space with their families. That’s the kind of attention that they give,” said Walkow.
Walkow left everyone wheezing with laughter during his show, but between all the jokes, he couldn’t help but encourage everyone to keep learning more about Center for Hospice Care and the amazing impact it’s had on the community.
“I work with a lot of organizations, and they’re all special in their own right, but the Center for Hospice Care team has such a deep love for what they do. I encourage everyone to go online, check out what they do, and if they can, give. Even if it’s just 20 bucks, it can make a huge difference in someone’s life,” said Walkow.
Ultimately, it was no luck of the draw that made Center for Hospice Care’s first Vegas Vibes fundraiser such a huge success. The Center for Hospice Care team is grateful to everyone who showed up and made such a wonderful event possible.
“I’m so thankful to all of our sponsors – there are so many wonderful sponsors here tonight. I also want to give a special thanks to all of the volunteers who are working here and attending and supporting us in this effort. We’re very grateful to the community for coming out tonight,” said Taelman.
As Center for Hospice Care continues to grow to better serve Plymouth and the surrounding area, its team hopes they'll continue to grow with the community as well.
“I hope people take away a greater appreciation for our presence in the Plymouth area and for what we’re trying to accomplish with our fundraising efforts. We look forward to building more partnerships with Plymouth organizations and building closer relationships with Plymouth area donors,” said Taelman.
To learn more about Center for Hospice Care, visit cfhcare.org.
