3515 Silverside Road
Wilmington, DE 19810
NEWS RELEASE: November 6, 2006
CONTACT: Beverly Crowl
Tel: 302-547-1816
Email: bcrowl@delawarehospice.org
Delaware Hospice holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Delaware Hospice Center
U. S. Senator Thomas R. Carper was keynote speaker at Delaware Hospice’s Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford on Friday, November 3, 2006.
The celebration was attended by more than 200 guests, including board members, staff, volunteers, supporters and friends.
The Delaware Hospice Center will serve families throughout the state of Delaware and will be the first hospice center to serve Kent and Sussex Counties in Delaware.
Dale Stratton, Chair of the Delaware Hospice Development Committee and former Chair of the Board of Trustees, presided over the event brilliantly. She introduced each speaker on the program, including the Senator Thomas Carper, Harriet Smith Windsor, Delaware’s Secretary of State; the Honorable Joseph Rogers, Mayor of the City of Milford; Susan Lloyd, President and C.E.O. of Delaware Hospice; Henry H. Silliman III, Chair of the Delaware Hospice Board of Trustees; and Betsy and Wayne Holden, Co-Chairs of the Delaware Hospice Capital Campaign.
In her opening remarks, Delaware Hospice President and C.E.O., Susan Lloyd, explained, “Our vision for the Delaware Hospice Center developed from a statewide needs assessment that we undertook several years ago, which clearly indicated that citizens of Delaware needed and desired expanded options for end-of-life care. Today we take the next step to fulfill our promise and intention to respond to those needs.”
As Mrs. Lloyd explained, the Delaware Hospice Center will complete the continuum of hospice care provided by the organization. Currently, those who need our services have the choice of care at home, in the hospital or in nursing homes. The Center will provide a home away from home when being at home may not be the best of options.
The Center will be available to patients of all ages. A patient leaving the hospital may choose to stay at the Center to get symptoms managed before returning home; or a caregiver may desire some time to learn how to care for their loved one or just to have a break from their awesome responsibility.
The future Delaware Hospice Center will feature sixteen patient and family suites, a Family Support and Counseling Center, a Community Resource Center, a Meditation Room, and new offices for our home-based services and administrative staff. Families will be able to enjoy the kitchens, dining rooms and sitting rooms with alcoves for visiting children to play.
Professional hospice care will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Mrs. Lloyd emphasized, “We will continue to be, as always, a professional healthcare organization offering specialized services in times of uncertainty. We will continue to be, as well, a caring compassionate group of friends and neighbors dedicated to providing a life service in helping people receive the support that they need to fulfill their wishes.”
Representing Governor Ruth Ann Minner, Secretary of State Harriet Smith Windsor said, “On behalf of the Governor, it is my honor to be here for this very special groundbreaking occasion at a time and in a place where there is such a need for the services of this Center. If the Governor were able to be here, I’m sure she would have given her personal testimony about her own experience when she needed the help of the staff and volunteers of Delaware Hospice, and how she couldn’t have gotten through that difficult time without them. I’m so happy to be here for this Groundbreaking and I assure you the time between the Groundbreaking and the Ribbon Cutting will go pretty quickly. Thank you for allowing me to be here.”
The Honorable Thomas R. Carper, U.S. Senator for Delaware, discussed how important the role of hospice care has become in the lives of citizens in recent years. He said, “We could probably go around the tent and everybody here could stand up and give a testimonial for what hospice has meant to your own family. Whether it’s in Delaware or in some other state around the country, we’re just really blessed to have hospice care.”
Senator Carper remarked, “The Delaware Hospice Center will fulfill an important role in meeting the needs of folks who would benefit from an intermediary place between being cared for at home and being cared for in a hospital.”
Senator Carper praised the dedication and service of Delaware Hospice’s staff and volunteers, and closed with a touching message. He said, “I remember a letter I received years ago as Delaware’s Governor. It was a photocopied letter from a woman named Melissa. This letter had been sent to every governor in the country and asked a simple question: ‘What is the secret to happiness?’ I answered Melissa, with two words: ‘Serve others.’”
He explained, “I’m convinced that’s the secret to happiness. The joy in life isn’t from what we get in life. The joy in life is from what we give. And talk about a giving group of people, under this tent, if they’re a part of Delaware Hospice, they don’t make them any better. For all of you who give so much to provide relief and gratitude at a really tough time in so many people’s lives, thank you. You are doing the Lord’s work. God Bless You.”
The Honorable Joseph Rogers, Mayor of the City of Milford, said, “It has been a dream in my mind to have Delaware Hospice locate in this non-profit park, alongside the new Veteran’s Home and the future Girls and Boys Club of Delaware.” He also praised Delaware Hospice’s staff and volunteers, speaking from personal experience, “I’ve suffered a few losses in my life, and in each case people from Delaware Hospice were there helping out and putting things together for us. Not only are they there when you need them, but they call you back to ask if you need more. I don’t know where you get such caring people, but you’re blessed and fortunate. I am so pleased that Delaware Hospice Center will be here in the City of Milford.”
Henry H. Silliman, III, Chair of the Delaware Hospice Board of Trustees, took time to recognize individuals who have taken a leadership role in realizing the vision of a new Delaware Hospice Center, including previous board members and the executive management of Delaware Hospice.
Wayne and Betsy Holden, Co-Chairs of the Community Campaign to Expand Delaware Hospice announced that the Delaware Hospice Center would be built through this capital campaign whose goal is to raise $4,000,000. Mr. Holden recognized and expressed appreciation on behalf of Delaware Hospice to Community Campaign Co-Chairs, Llaird and Peg Stabler; and to significant contributors to date, including: Mike Harrington, Lillian Burris, Bob Dickerson and Lida Wells, the team leaders of support committees; the Welfare Foundation; The Longwood Foundation; Crystal Trust; the State of Delaware; the Bank of America; and the Carl M. Freeman Foundation.
Mr. Holden promised, “To realize the goal of our Community Campaign to Expand Delaware Hospice will take many individuals and many small checks. We will be in touch with you!”
To learn more about the Delaware Hospice Center and the Community Campaign to Expand Delaware Hospice, contact Manny Arencibia, Vice President of Development, 800-838-9800 x131 or visit: delawarehospice.org, Capital Campaign.
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About Delaware Hospice
Since 1982, Delaware Hospice has provided exceptional care and support to nearly 23,000 patients and their families. Its mission is to help each patient, each day, live the fullest, most comfortable life possible. Delaware Hospice is the largest and only licensed, nonprofit, community-based hospice serving New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware and southern Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania. For more information about Delaware Hospice and our specialized programs, call 800-838-9800 or visit our website, www.delawarehospice.org.
Delaware
Hospice is accredited by JCAHO.
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