This week, the Angela Hospice Choir received LeadingAge Michigan’s Group Volunteer of the Year Award! In honor of the recognition, we chatted with Angela Hospice’s Director of Volunteer Services, Syndie Best, about the nomination process, why she thought they would be a good group to nominate, and how she told the group they won. To read more about the choir check out the volunteer spotlight we recently ran on choir director Evelyn Wojkowiak . The choir at the LeadingAge Michigan awards. How did you find out about the LeadingAge Michigan awards? Marti [Coplai, Angela Hospice Executive Director] forwarded me the information. She knew about them. Not a lot of hospices have choirs, so when she found out that we have a choir she said, "Hey, you should see if you can nominate them." What was the nomination process like? LeadingAge only does one group award so they wanted to know the history of the group, what it is they do, how long they’ve been doing it, what...

Being cared for in the comfort of home is one of the many benefits of home hospice care. But for those residing in the Angela Hospice Care Center, the Care Center can become a comfortable home away from home as well. Our volunteers seek to make the holidays memorable by creating special opportunities for patients and families to come together and experience holiday festivities – such as Thanksgiving supper at the Care Center. Patient Jean Henegar was able to attend with six of her family members. While Jean is bed-bound, her nurses were able to wheel her bed right into the Day Room, and found her a spot where she could see the whole room – and all 91 of the other guests! Jean’s daughter, Patti Wert, saw how much it brightened her mother’s spirit. Jean Henegar’s family was happy to be able to attend Thanksgiving dinner with her at the Care Center. “It meant so much to her,” Patti said. She said Jean’s appetite improved and she was happy to be able to spend the holiday with her f...

This week one of our volunteers, Bernadette O’Neill, was recognized as a Distinguished Volunteer at the Association of Fundraising Professionals Annual Philanthropy Day Dinner! Bernadette is being honored for her work with the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph, where she works in the development department. Bernadette also volunteers in the development department at Angela Hospice, and has been a volunteer here for over a decade. “Bernadette has been so generous to Angela Hospice; sharing not only her time, but her formidable skills and wisdom with our team in the development department,” said Robert Alexander, Angela Hospice Director of Development. “She is one of those rare volunteers who knows her way very well around a computer and is able to multiply our efforts acknowledging and thanking donors for their heartfelt financial support for our hospice work. “We are so proud of Bernadette’s spirit of volunteerism and congratulate her wholeheartedly!” he cont...

While guests view the auction and raffle baskets at this Friday’s Light Up a Life Gala, two volunteers will be taking a much deserved break. Carolyn Arlen and Kate Uberti have spent countless hours in the basement of Angela Hospice putting those baskets together over the last few weeks: making sure every item is showcased, double-checking that auction items won’t fall out when the basket is picked up, and using the right colors so nothing clashes. Kate Uberti (left) and Carolyn Arlen (right) have spent the last few weeks creating dozens of baskets. “They not only have to look pretty but they have to be ergonomically correct,” Carolyn said. That means doing much more than just putting some items in a basket, throwing a bow on it, and calling it done. The average basket takes them about 20 minutes to create, but there are others that take much longer. Kate said one basket took her nearly an hour because items kept falling over. Carolyn has experienced items that are ...