Celebration of Caring raised more than $100,000 for VNA Care

The sold-out Celebration of Caring raised more than $100,000 for VNA Care’s home health and hospice services across Central Massachusetts and the Rose Monahan Hospice Home in Worcester.

As the area’s original visiting nurse association, VNA Care’s home- and community-based health care services enable patients to manage complex or chronic health conditions, recover from injury or illness, avoid stays in health care facilities, manage pain and symptoms of advanced illnesses, and more. When an illness is terminal, the hospice team provides specialized care that allows patients to live with dignity and supports loved ones before and after their loss.

The evening at the Worcester Country Club was organized by the volunteers on VNA Care’s Worcester Community Cabinet in recognition of the life-changing care provided by the agency’s visiting nurses and other clinicians and to mark the 25th anniversary of the Rose Monahan Hospice Home. Cabinet member Robin Spaulding gave guests an inside perspective on the work involved to establish the hospice home, the first of its kind in Central Massachusetts where terminally ill patients and their loved ones receive comprehensive care and support in homelike surroundings.

Cabinet Chair Liisa Holm shared VNA Care’s impact on her life and led a Fund the Need which brought additional critical charitable support for the visiting nurse association’s work.

Melisa Mantha, RN, Nurse Case Manager, reflected on the rewards of her work as a visiting nurse. She said, “We are social workers, teachers, and therapists. We sometimes become family to our patients.” Melisa extended her thanks to guests on behalf of her colleagues, adding, “It means so much knowing that you stand with us, helping us make an enormous difference in the lives of people right here in our community.”

Presenting Sponsors for Celebration of Caring were Marsh McLennan Agency, Mutual of America, and UMass Memorial Health. Inspired Leader Sponsors were Diane L. Leclair, Lenny & Charlie Monahan, Kelly Cremation & Funeral Care, and Miles Funeral Homes. View the complete Celebration of Caring sponsor list at http://www.VNACare.org/Worcester.

Learn more about the Rose Monahan Hospice Home’s 25th anniversary and make a charitable gift at http://www.VNACare.org/Monahan25.