Vero Beach, Fla. – (April 17, 2006) – The Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice Foundation, with the support of many generous and loyal supporters within the community, exceeded its VNA Hospice House Endowment Campaign goal of $5 million.
The endowment fund ensures care to patients at the VNA Hospice House for years to come – regardless of a patient’s ability to afford care. And while the original endowment goal has been met, the endowment fund is a living legacy for which donations will always be accepted.
The VNA Hospice House, since its completion in 2000, has cared for more than 1,400 patients, including patients as young as 4 and as old as 104. The endowment fund will ensure this care continues.
To celebrate this incredible achievement, a special recognition of endowment leadership donors took place on April 11 at the VNA Hospice House.
Leo Pierce spoke on behalf of the Pierce Family Foundation, which spearheaded the endowment campaign with a $1 million gift. Pierce shared his family’s experience with VNA Hospice during his wife’s life-limiting illness. “My wife died at home with tremendous help from VNA Hospice,” Pierce said. “Because of our experience, we decided as a family that our foundation would support the campaign.”
Ann Marie McCrystal, VNA & Hospice Foundation board chairman, thanked donors for their generosity and stressed the ongoing need for the VNA Hospice House. “The VNA Hospice House has been such a haven for so many families and people in our community,” she said.
John Campione, Hospice House Endowment Campaign co-chairman, spoke on behalf of the committee, referencing the tremendous accomplishment that enables VNA Hospice to serve the community. “The VNA Hospice House is a resource that is here for the community, and we have you to thank for that,” Campione said to donors.
The evening closed with a cocktail reception and tours of the residence.
The Visiting Nurse Association is Indian River County’s first, and remains its sole, non-profit home health and hospice agency. For more information about VNA services and programs, visit www.vnatc.com or call (772) 567-5551.
