GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Oct. 2, 2019) – Hospice of Michigan is huddling up again for Give a Quarter Back, a football-themed fundraising campaign designed to help thousands of Michigan families manage the challenges of providing end-of-life care. Give a Quarter Back is entering its second season with a focus on educating the state’s workforce on hospice benefits available to them and their loved ones, while inspiring all Michiganders to support Hospice of Michigan’s specialized programs and services.
The state’s original and largest not-for-profit hospice provider is opening its playbook to companies large and small, to help their employees who are juggling the responsibilities of caring for a terminally ill loved with their responsibilities at work. Hospice of Michigan helps identify and deliver the medical and emotional support they are entitled to.
Dilemmas for Family Caregivers
The financial and time strains 40 million family caregivers across the U.S. experience both at home and in the workplace are considerable. A 2018 Northwestern Mutual C.A.R.E. Study of 1,004 adults, conducted by Harris Poll, found that 68 percent financially supported an ailing loved one with nearly equal numbers doing so by reducing their own living expenses or drawing money from their own savings or other assets. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed reported borrowing money to fund care.
The survey also revealed demands of family caregivers significantly impact their workplace productivity with 80 percent missing unplanned days. On top of that, nearly equal numbers reported arriving late and leaving work early, as well as working reduced schedules.
Helping Families Quarterback Care
Along with raising funds, Give a Quarter Back is designed to educate business leaders and their employees about the many ways Hospice of Michigan can ease their burdens and improve productivity through care that is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance companies, including:
- Providing a dedicated team of medical, social work and spiritual professionals to bring a full range of end-of-life care into a patient’s home;
- Continually evaluating and responding to a patient’s changing condition, including providing urgent medications to address pain and symptom emergencies;
- Providing 24/7 contact center access for assistance with urgent questions and needs, as well as respite care that offers caregivers a much-needed break.
Management and employees of Grand Rapids-based Betz Industries have been contributing to Hospice of Michigan for more than 23 years. What started as a one-day community service project has evolved into a payroll deduction program for 96 percent of the company’s 170 employees, taking the manufacturer’s annual contribution from $4,000 to $50,000 – with a corporate match – over the years. While Hospice of Michigan has benefitted from the company’s generosity, Betz has been equally rewarded.
“We’ve been able to educate our employees about hospice,” said Dan Scott, director of Human Resources, “and so our people know exactly what to do when they need help because they’ve invested in Hospice of Michigan. Without exception, those who’ve come to me have been grateful to receive help with one call.
“You don’t want to have to have the experience,” said Scott of hospice, “but when you do, there’s relief that there’s an organization out there to support it. Hospice of Michigan turns a negative into a positive.”
With a second season campaign goal of $300,000, funds generated through Give a Quarter Back support patient and family care that is not covered by insurance in four key areas, including:
- Hospice of Michigan’s Open Access Program providing end-of-life care to patients regardless of age, diagnosis or ability to pay;
- NorthStar Palliative Care providing specialized support that focuses on improving quality of life through pain and stress management and relief;
- Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children, the only statewide, dedicated pediatric hospice program, offering supportive care services for seriously ill youngsters;
- NorthStar Institute providing caregiver education and support, and education programs for physicians and health care professionals.
Bentley/Bacon Join QB Lineup
Give a Quarter Back’s season two also features video testimonies of hospice experiences from new and returning quarterbacks from the world of sports. Former NFL linebacker, broadcaster and author Ray Bentley and journalist, author and sports commentator John U. Bacon are joining last year’s roster of sports professionals in sharing their stories via Hospice of Michigan’s social media channels to inspire Michiganders to make Give a Quarter Back contributions – in increments of 25s.
Here’s How to Get Into The Game
Michigan business executives interested in learning more about how Hospice of Michigan can help them and their employees reap the benefits of hospice support through Give a Quarter Back can contact Megan LaCross, director of philanthropy – east at melacross@www.hom.org or 248.320.0132.
Hospice of Michigan has already gained yardage on this season’s campaign with new corporate champions joining the roster of those that supported Give a Quarter Back last year. On the field at kick-off are:
Applied Imaging
Betz Industries
Lacks Enterprises, Inc.
To make a Give a Quarter Back contribution:
- Visit www.GiveAQuarterBack.com
- Text GAQB to 56651
- Mail a check, made payable to Hospice of Michigan, to: 989 Spaulding Ave SE, Ada, MI 49301