CEO Message: July 2020

Dear Friends,

A message to you a few months ago was from my living room via video. We all thought that with a short, but disciplined stay-at-home approach, life would have been starting to resemble a version of normalcy by now. Sadly, that is not the case. All of us at HG Foundation are still working remotely and know we are very fortunate to have important work to do while so many others struggle. Much of our COVID emergency funding went to direct support for families facing serious illness and end of life, while simultaneously facing financial hardship. For some, the funding supported emotional care to help people cope with the anxiety of fragile medical conditions in the face of a pandemic. And for others, it helped providers and patients connect and receive medical care in a new environment of tele-health and zoom calls. Hospice Giving Foundation was proud to fund them all.

The complexities of our world are screaming at us to pay attention. But just because the messages are amplified now with many vivid examples, they are not new. We know that healthcare is no stranger to inequities and imbalances for both quality of and access to care. There are scholars, writers, and scientists working to understand the disparities in healthcare. Listening to/reading their analyses can be both informative and inspiring. We have re-tooled our website to make those resources accessible and available for you. We will add new content as it comes our way and we invite you to make suggestions as well.

With our funding for end-of-life care, HG Foundation envisions culturally responsive services available broadly and widely throughout our communities. So you ask… Have we made tremendous strides for parity in end-of-life care? No. Have we ensured that all who want quality care at end of life receive it? No. Are we aware there are people who don’t know where to begin, or are frightened to ask for good care at end of life? Yes. And then you ask… So what are you doing about it?

I believe that the first step towards change is admitting that quality care through end of life is not the same or available for everyone and acknowledging that we have a great deal of work to do. While we may intellectually know there are many factors, such as race, culture, and socio-economics, we need to deepen our understanding and hear from those impacted. To learn and understand requires we listen to our community members to discover what people need, want, expect, and are missing. We must stand side-by-side with providers, partners, and community members to develop strategies together. Then finally, future funding initiatives need to respond to what we learn and the change we envision.

In the face of these very serious issues, HOPE does not shut down. It cannot shut down.

In community with you, HG Foundation will examine the inequities in end-of-life care, focus on difficult issues, and explore solutions. That is HOPE. In January 2020, we launched HOPEGives to help people better prepare for serious illness and end of life: to promote understanding, acceptance, and conversation. It is an optimistic vision, the need for which was magnified these past several months. That is HOPE. HOPEGives has a unique place in our current dialogue because understanding and acceptance have a place. Honest conversations have a place. Being present in the face of loss and change, indeed has a place. And because HOPE has a very important place in our lives and hearts as we summon the capacity to look ahead, face our challenges, and find solutions – together.

Together we can promote change for a healthier, more respectful and equitable humanity. We invite you and those you care about to join us and model the ideals of HOPEGives and the values of Hospice Giving Foundation. Be open to difficult conversations; sit with friends or family who are struggling and listen. Explore the materials on our website about disparity in end-of-life care and preparedness. Share your opinions and make your voices heard. And finally, take the Pledge to identify your wishes and begin your preparedness.

Caring. Giving. Together. That’s how we promote positive change and keep HOPE very much open for business.

With respect,

Siobhan M. Greene
President/CEO