Navigating Life's Journey
The Gift of Hospice: Navigating Life's Journey helps guests understand how the hospice team acts as the navigator during the end of life. The patient and family remain in the driver's seat, deciding what their care will look like, when it will occur, and how they want to live their lives. Like its predecessors, this powerful one-hour program is designed to celebrate hospice, bring the community closer to the hospice mission, and raise funds to support the work of hospice. This event builds and draws on people’s commitment to the mission of hospice. It weaves together important information about hospice with personal testimonials from local people and wonderful new music from Grammy-nominee Karen Taylor-Good.
The general structure of the event is identical (one hour program, appetizers, cash bar). It’s the overall message, music, and décor that are new and updated, making it a great evening for new guests as well as those who attended the first one. Once again, the event is free to attend, with guests invited by Table Hosts—individuals who have volunteered to host a table of 8 guests for this important cause. Guests are informed that while the event is free to attend, they must have an advance ticket for admission, everyone will be invited to pledge their financial support to hospice, but there is absolutely no obligation to give.
People who have been Table Hosts previously do not need to go through orientation—simply give them a packet containing all of the information needed, as well as their flyers and tickets. Individuals who were guests at a previous event, and are now planning to be Table Hosts should attend an orientation session.
During their orientation, Table Hosts are told not to focus solely on guests who are perceived to be able to make a large donation, but rather to invite people who are important to them. There are several reasons for this—
- You can’t always tell who actually has money or resources to donate.
- Those who look like they have money may have their money already committed.
- Even if they have the potential to give, they may not choose to give to hospice.
- The guest who has no ability to make a financial gift may have important connections in the community that can help hospice. If they are moved by the mission, they will reach out to the connections and resources available to them to assist us in reaching our vision.
Because the message is new, everyone who attends this event will walk away with some new knowledge about hospice. Some will become lifelong donors, some will draw on their knowledge of the services to help others access hospice care, some will bring others closer to the mission, and some will seek hospice care for themselves when it is needed. All of these are equally important to the ongoing vitality of the local hospice program.
This Gift of Hospice features three testimonials which provide the basis for the educational messages of the program. An MC provides continuity to the 60-minute program, welcoming guests at the beginning and introducing Karen and each of the testimonial speakers. A strong supporter of hospice invites the guests to make a financial donation, the MC ties it all together, and Karen ends the evening with an energetic, inspiring song, “I'm Not That Powerful”.
Guests are invited to stay after, as the cash bar reopens, and Karen’s music and book will be for sale (with a portion of those proceeds benefiting the local hospice program). Karen enjoys meeting the guests, sharing stories, and signing autographs. Many guests will want to mingle and share their own stories about hospice, celebrating life with their friends and families who are also present. They are part of something exciting, a continuing celebration of The Gift of Hospice!
Songs Performed by Karen Taylor-Good (all songs are original pieces, written by Karen)
- How Can I Help You Say Goodbye?
- I'll Be There for You
- Until I'm Strong Again
- Use Me Up
- I'm Not That Powerful
For more information on Karen Taylor-Good, visit her web site karentaylorgood.com