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MISSION
The Mission of the Hospice Care Foundation is to fund compassionate care activities and educate the community on hospice and palliative care options, while striving to ensure that hospice care options are available to all those in need.
VISION
The Foundation envisions achievement of its mission through a triad approach.
~ Awarding grants to organizations, programs and projects who share its passion for improving quality of life for individuals requiring hospice and palliative care.
~ Empowering our community to promote the ideals and principles of hospice care.
~ Working to ensure residential hospice care options are available to patients in need.
HISTORY
The Hospice Care Foundation does not provide hospice services. The Foundation is not affiliated with any one hospice organization and is able to financially support multiple hospice and palliative care providers. To understand its current activities, a review of its history is essential.
From its creation in 1981, the Hospice Ball was an annual fundraising event in the Missoula community. Originally the ball was organized by a group of volunteers from the Western Montana Association of Life Underwriters. As the event grew, so did the number of attendees and administration required to host the event.
The Hospice Care Foundation became a 501©3 in June 2001. It operated utilizing volunteers until 2007. For over 25 years, funds were raised & dispersed to hospice providers. In late 2005, this changed as the board decided to focus on capital fundraising with a long term goal of build a hospice house. The plan was to spend as little money as possible until beginning the “creation” stage of the project. This philosophy would ensure that the organization would be fiscally solvent and that funds would be available for building of the house. Currently the Foundation’s investment account contains both its restricted and operational funds.
HCF had worked on the premise that a stand-alone hospice house was the priority need for patients and providers. In March 2010, the board decided to challenge that belief. Local hospice care providers & community members were surveyed, government & health regulations reviewed, & cost projections were updated. Advice was sought from their accountant & attorney.
Results indicated that while a hospice house was desired, priority services & support should be in the form of grants, volunteer support & community education. This information was presented at the Sept. 2010 board meeting. Program expansion received unanimous approval by all board members who attended the meeting.
Similar to others, HCF is in the midst of a programmatic transformation. Its programs and projects are designed to effectively serve the hospice providers and thus their patients. By listening & responding to their needs, the organization is providing priority services & community support in a thoughtful & dynamic manner. HCF has not lost sight of its dream of building a hospice facility, however after careful research & consultation it may not look exactly like the original projections from years ago.
Check back often for news on all the programs and projects.
DID YOU KNOW?
Hospice is a philosophy of care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient’s symptoms. These symptoms can be physical, emotional, spiritual or social in nature. The concept of hospice has been evolving since the 11thcentury. The modern concept of hospice includes palliative care for the incurably ill given in such institutions as hospitals or nursing homes but also care provided to those who would rather die in their own homes. It began to emerge in the 17th century, but many of the foundational principles by which modern hospice services operate were pioneered in the 1950’s by Dame Cicely Saunders.
Make an Online Donation
Your thoughtful donations help the Hospice Care Foundation achieve its goals and continue its support of Missoula’s hospice community.
$25 is the suggested donation. Simply type in your own amount if you wish to make a smaller or larger donation. Thank you!
*donations are securely handled through PayPal.
