Several hundred benefactors of the VNA & Hospice Foundation were feted with a Caribbean-themed Paradise Under the Palms celebration at the Quail Valley River Club last Monday evening to express gratitude for their continued support.
Guests began the evening by enjoying a poolside cocktail party in true island fashion – delighting in gorgeous weather, the idyllic ambiance of a sunset over the lagoon, and listening to the dulcet sounds of steel drum calypso music. The lovely event was co-chaired by Anne Cooney and Emily Sherwood.
The VNA began providing healthcare services to Indian River County residents with just one nurse and one home health aide. Its programs and services rapidly increased, keeping pace with the county’s growth, thanks in large part to community support. Services include home health and rehabilitative services, hospice care and bereavement counseling, and community wellness healthcare services.
“We’re a home health agency and hospice; hospice is a significant portion of our care base,” said Ford Fegert, chairman of the VNA of the Treasure Coast board, and the organization’s interim CEO/President.
He noted that the majority of patients have private insurance or are eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, but added, “the tremendous support we get from private donors allows us to provide care to people who have fallen between the cracks.”
Fegert said a new program called Open Access assists individuals with life-limiting illnesses to segue from home health care to whatever option is best for them, including hospice.
“We’re seeking support for the program from the foundation, the taxing district and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They have identified the same need; we’re taking a leadership role.”
Philanthropic support also helps fund the VNA Mobile Unit, which provides free medical care for minor illnesses at locations throughout the county, assisting patients who might otherwise have simple care issues treated in an emergency room.
“This is a thank-you,” said Fegert. “These are the things we’re offering, thanks to our generous donors. They’ve taken on this task in an overwhelming way. We do this every other year; it’s all sponsored. We don’t use any donor money for this.”
Before guests began to dine, al fresco and indoors, on a sumptuous buffet dinner created by Executive Chef Joe Faria and his talented staff, they were thanked by VNA & Hospice Foundation board chairman Carol Kanarek.
“We appreciate what you do each and every year,” said Kanarek, who was also celebrating her birthday that evening.
“You support us, you support our mission, and we thank you. Next year the VNA will celebrate its 40th year in Indian River County, and Hospice House will be 15 next year. We hope you will be with us throughout the coming years.”
Ann Marie McCrystal, a founding member and one of the organization’s staunchest supporters, served as board chairman of VNA of the Treasure Coast for 14 years, and then another 19 years as chairman of the VNA & Hospice Foundation; also chairing the $5 million capital campaign to construct the 12-bedroom Hospice House.
“Marion Oechsner came here from Wisconsin and had been on a VNA board there. When she realized there was none here, she put together a group of people in the community,” McCrystal recalled about the organization’s founding.
“House calls were becoming a thing of the past, and people needed care in the home. Hospitals were beginning to dismiss people sooner; people used to be in the hospital for weeks. We got our first patient in 1975. We hired our first Nurse Director, Sue Schlitt, and two weeks later a home health aide. It grew so fast. Now it’s a whole continuum of care. We have more than 300 employees and more than 400 volunteers. The whole organization has grown.”
