Center for Hospice Care welcomed the community to a night of celebration at the Hilton Garden Inn’s Gillespie Conference and Special Event Center in South Bend. The organization hosted its 39th Annual Helping Hands Award dinner on Wednesday, August 7.
“The Helping Hands Award Dinner is a wonderful staple in our community every year. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate Center for Hospice Care and the incredible work they do in providing compassionate care to those in need of it,” said Lou Nanni, vice president of university relations at the University of Notre Dame.
With every seat in the dining area full, Nanni was appreciative of the overwhelming support Center for Hospice Care has received over the years.
“We have an amazing community that cares and supports so many causes and wonderful charitable organizations. We're so blessed to have one of the top hospices not only in the country but also in the world. It has a track record of outstanding leadership and an incredible team," said Nanni.
This dinner event acts as a fundraiser for people who may not have the financial resources to receive the care they may need. Last year, the organization raised more than $375,000. This year, it raised more than any previous event, exceeding $560,000, which will support many of the programs within Center for Hospice Care.
The biggest thing that makes the Helping Hands Award Dinner unique is the opportunity for the community to come together and recognize someone who helps elevate the quality of living of so many people in this area. Every year, a new leader who receives the honor.
“One of the great elements of this dinner is that you get to celebrate a different community leader every year,” said Nanni. “Tonight is also about heroic volunteers who accompany people in their most vulnerable stages of life who don’t have a helping hand by their side. We’re grateful to bring new people into the organization with a heightened awareness for hospice.”
For the 39th annual award dinner, Center for Hospice Care recognized Father Edward “Monk” Malloy, the 16th president of the University of Notre Dame.
“He’s responsible as much as anybody in the history of Notre Dame for growing the relationship between the local community and the university,” Nanni said. “This night is a fitting tribute to a man whose whole life has been dedicated to serving our local community.”
Center for Hospice Care Chief Development Officer Chris Taelman is another person who has been looking forward to honoring Father Malloy.
“We’ve had a wonderful partnership with the University of Notre Dame from the time we began in the community as a nonprofit organization,” Taelman said. “Father Malloy’s contributions to the community align with the mission of Center for Hospice Care. We’re very pleased to have so many in our community gathering to honor him.”
Taelman looks forward to this event every year because it provides them a chance to give people a better perspective on hospice care.
“This event delivers a lot of positive energy for everyone associated with our organization,” Taelman said. “It helps us share our mission and demonstrates the quality care delivered every day by Center for Hospice Care.”
For more information on Center for Hospice Care, you can visit its website.