On December 11, 2013, in the presence of the assembled Board of Directors of the London and St Thomas Association of REALTORS®, LSTAR President Doug Pedlar presented Gabriella Catolino, Director of Development & Capital Campaign for St. Joseph's Hospice, Donald Bryant, Capitol Campaign Chair, and Marisa Kanas, Campaign Development Officer, with a cheque for $25,000, to be used towards the establishment of a residential hospice in London at the Sisters of St. Joseph's Residence.
For more than 27 years St. Joseph's Hospice has been providing community-based palliative and bereavement care to people living in London and the immediate surrounding area. Currently it does not have a residence associated with it, unlike most comparable Canadian cities. Fortunately, Hospice has entered into a partnership with the Sisters of St. Joseph whereby ten beds in two of its wings will be devoted to hospice beds.
"When we learned about this great project back in the Spring of 2013, we pledged to give Hospice $50,000 over a two year period." explains Pedlar. "This cheque represents half of that commitment." The $50,000 level of commitment gives LSTAR naming rights to a bedroom in the new facility. The funds come from LSTAR's Business Partners Program and grants from the REALTORS® Care Foundation.
"A residential hospice will improve the quality of life in our community by making end of life less stressful and alienating, both for patients and their family and friends," says Pedlar. "It's a good thing and we are proud to support it."
Also present was Heather Arnott, Chair of LSTAR's Quality of Life Advisory Group.
A wide variety of programs and services are offered at Hospice focused on addressing the emotional, practical, social and spiritual needs and concerns of their clients and families. Programs and services are offered at no cost to clients and families.
