Impactful Stories Shared During Ohio’s Hospice Luncheon
More than $75,000 was raised for Ohio’s Hospice after a successful Hour of Impact luncheon May 15 at the Sinclair Ponitz Center in Dayton.
Nearly 250 community members, sponsors, and healthcare professionals gathered to hear powerful stories about the impact our superior care and superior services have made throughout the communities we serve.
Keynote speaker, Colonel Colleen Ryan (USAF, ret.) shared a story of her personal connection with Ohio’s Hospice, which provided care for her mother at an assisted living facility.
“In her final week, the care they provided helped reduce her pain and suffering, and it also gave my brother and me some peace of mind during that challenging and difficult time,” she said.
Already struggling with the death of her father seven months prior, Colleen began counseling through Ohio’s Hospice where she learned to celebrate the life she shared with them and not just focus on the grief.
“Of course I will always miss them, but thanks to hospice I have tools to cope better,” Colleen said.
The focus for this year’s event was our American Pride® Veteran Care program, which combines medical excellence with meaningful recognition, creating a care experience that honors the whole person — their service, their stories, and their legacy.
Each Veteran in our care can receive a special recognition ceremony. During the Hour of Impact luncheon, a similar ceremony took place for Army Reservist Michael Boland, who served from 1968-1976 and was activated three times during the 1970 Pittsburgh Riots and the Kent State University shootings.
The luncheon was supported through multiple sponsorship levels, and net profits will support patient care and the organization’s mission of Celebrating Life’s Stories® throughout the Dayton community.
Superior Care Sponsors were McGohan Brabender, Gillam Lawncare & Landscaping, Coolidge Wall, and The Dayton Foundation.
Bereavement Sponsors were United HealthCare, Kettering Health, Huntington Bank, Millwright Industrial Services, UBS/The Schade Team, David’s Cemetery, Montgomery County Recorder Lori Kennedy, Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. and Detmer Mechanical, and Alzheimer’s Association.
American Pride Sponsors were Premier Health, Knack Video + Photo, Synergy Building Systems, Cincinnati Insurance, Progressive Printers, Exhibit Concepts, In Memory of Jon & Linda Poelking, and Precision Metal Fabrication.
Event volunteers who helped with ushering, registration and photography included: Becky Schock, Melissa Romer, Andrea Kowaleski, Adrianne Veatch, Monica Morris, Abbey Goubeaux, Phil French, Kristen Kindle, Mike Lyons, Dan Shroyer, Joe Steele, Dave Weeks, Tom Rutherford, Linda Pangborn, Zac Stepp, Joe Machado, Kelly Linder, and Maureen Swartz.
Ohio’s Hospice plans to continue the Hour of Impact Luncheon as an annual event. Planning for next year’s event will begin soon, with details to be announced at a later date.
