HOSPICE FUND ADVISORS ANNOUNCE FIRST ROUND OF GRANTS

In its first round of grantmaking, the Maine Community Foundation’s Hospice Fund advisory committee awarded a total of $28,500 to five health organizations.

Grants went to:

• Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, Portland, for workshops to increase awareness among family caregivers of Medicare hospice benefits
  
• Hospice of Midcoast Maine, Brunswick, for the “Living Loss Living Hope” program
  
• Hospice of Southern Maine, Portland, for the Volunteer and Bereavement Program
  
• Maine Hospice Council, Augusta, for scholarships for volunteer caregivers in York and Cumberland counties to attend annual Maine Hospice Council retreat
  
• Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of South Portland, S. Portland, to promote awareness of the hospice benefit through outreach to existing community networks
  
  The Hospice Fund supports volunteer and bereavement service programs in Cumberland and York counties. For complete Hospice Fund guidelines or call 1- (207) 761-2440. The fund’s advisory committee expects to make 3-5 grant awards each year; next deadline: January 15, 2008. Preference will be given to innovative projects that focus on increasing the utilization and/or quality of end-of-life services.
  
  If you have questions or would like to discuss an idea before submitting a proposal, please contact Pam Cleghorn via email or by phone at (207) 761-2440.