Gala raises $310K for Hulitar hospice center
PROVIDENCE – HopeHealth has announced that its annual gala, an Evening of Hope & Gratitude, raised $310,000 in support of the 24-bed Philip Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence – a place of compassion and caring for terminally ill patients and their families. A portion of the proceeds raised will go toward the newly named Arthur S. Robbins Hope Fund, which helps patients who are uninsured, underinsured or cannot afford the cost of hospice care. The fund is named after this year’s Human Dignity Award recipient, Arthur Robbins, the longest-serving board member in HopeHealth’s history.
“Our Evening of Hope & Gratitude enables HopeHealth to deliver on the mission of hospice – the promise of comfort and dignity when time matters most,” said Diana Franchitto, president & CEO of HopeHealth. “This year’s event had an amazing turnout and we are grateful to all those who helped us reach our goal.”
The gala, which took place on Oct. 13 at the Providence Marriott, hosted nearly 400 guests who enjoyed an evening of dinner, dancing and live jazz music while supporting HopeHealth’s hospice services.
The night included a live and silent auction and the Fund a Need campaign, which raised $55,000 for the Arthur S. Robbins Hope Fund.
Arthur Robbins, of Providence, was presented with the 2018 Human Dignity Award in honor of his 30 years of service as a HopeHealth Board Member. Over the past three decades, Robbins has devoted countless hours to advocacy and fundraising for hospice patients and has given his own time and financial contributions to support HopeHealth’s programs. The Human Dignity Award, is in memory of Martin Temkin, a former board member and donor, and is given to people who have dedicated themselves to the essence of hospice: to offer comfort, dignity and compassion to patients and families.
As part of the Fund a Need appeal, Kate Kelley of Little Compton shared her experience with HopeHealth as her late husband, Henry Kelley, received compassionate care through the end of his life. Kelley is now a volunteer at HopeHealth and recently volunteered at Camp Brave- Heart and the Weekend of Hope & Healing.
This year’s Evening of Hope & Gratitude was sponsored by The Feibelman Family in loving memory of Hannah Feibelman, The Elms Foundation, The Robbins Family, Barrett & Singal, Lifespan, WilBea Medical Equipment, and many more. Find the full list of sponsors at HopeHealthCo. org/Hope&Gratitude.
For more information on HopeHealth and how to contribute, please visit HopeHealthCo.org/DonateNow.