Circles of Care Spring/Summer 2024 Newsletter

Circles of Care

A Healing Journey

By Jordy Camilleri

It’s one thing to lose a parent when they die. It’s another to have them alive but not in the picture. I had both.

My sister and I were born in Australia and raised by parents who were addicted to drugs and alcohol. My father was in and out of our lives and also in and out of prison. When he showed up, he was violent and abusive. I had to navigate a lot of confusion. He wasn’t a great guy, but you love your dad no matter what.

Our parents divorced when I was seven. My mom tried to clean herself up. She found faith, and that helped her. Then, when I was 12, my dad was killed in a terrible accident.

I was in middle school and felt extremely different from the other kids. People tried to help. I saw counselors and chaplains. But my biggest breakthrough came because I was a surfer. After school, I would spend 4½ hours on the ocean trying to process everything. Being out in nature helped me put my life in perspective.

A new start

Several years ago, I was doing mission work and met a young American woman in the program named Madison. We hit it off almost immediately and fell in love and got married!

Madison grew up in Muskegon, so in 2020, we decided to move to West Michigan. While I was doing some photo and video work for Harbor Hospice, I was asked if I wanted to see Camp Courage in action. I was very moved when I learned that all the campers had lost someone close to them, so I offered to make a video about the camp, which I donated to Harbor Hospice.

I also wanted to go back to Camp Courage this summer and be a counselor. I understand the pain and confusion and feelings that many of the campers have, especially those who have grown up in difficult situations like I did. They’ve had a lot of moving parts to deal with. I can relate to them, and I want to be able to offer them comfort and support.

Giving back

It’s easy for me to think, “Why me? Why did I have to lose my dad?” But I think everything happens for a reason. I can help these children who are in the situation I was in 10 years ago. I also feel my experience at camp this summer will bring my own grief journey full circle.

I look forward to the training I’ll get as a new counselor, and learning techniques for finding opportunities to have conversations with the children. As a kid, I never wanted to talk about my life, and I know a lot of children who live through trauma feel the same way. Then, last summer at camp, I watched kids being kids in a beautiful place where they didn’t have to feel judgment for what they’ve walked through. They could be free to express what they were feeling. I watched how experiences like music therapy and story time around the campfire helped conversations with them happen naturally.

I work in education and I have a huge heart for empowering children to be better, to do better, and in the case of our campers, to heal. I also believe that as adults, we have a big responsibility to help children grow and to give them opportunities to learn and to try new things. The children at Camp Courage are our next generation, and probably some of our next camp counselors! They are navigating life, and being at Camp Courage will help them find a healthy path. It is lifechanging for many. Someday they will be able to help others, just like I am.

There are happy endings to this story. My mom married again. Her husband is a really good man, and they had two children together, so I have my biological sister plus two brothers. I love to see those two young guys not having to walk through what I did. They live on a nice farm. There are no drugs. There is no abuse.

I know my dad is at peace. I finally found peace in his death, too. I understand there was nothing I could have done to change anything. Time does heal scars, but grief leaves a mark on your heart. I learned I can make it better by giving back, and Camp Courage is giving me an opportunity to do that. I’m very excited to be part of Camp Courage again this year!

Jordy Camilleri is a communication project manager for the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District.

You are always at the top of our thoughts when we gather to plan each newsletter, and for this issue, we thought you would enjoy hearing directly from some of our volunteers and supporters.

In our inspiring cover story, you met our friend Jordy Camilleri, whose traumatic experience losing his father when he was just 12 years old led to his enthusiasm for being a counselor at Camp Courage. You’ll hear from other volunteers as well who share with you why they eagerly set aside time each summer to be with the children at Camp.

Several members of our donor groups were happy to explain why they chose the Harbor Hospice Foundation to receive an annual gift or a multi-year pledge, or to be included in their estate plan. Their intentional commitment to our mission and to our patients and their families makes it possible for us to offer the best palliative, hospice and grief care in West Michigan.

That fact was reinforced to us earlier this year when we earned Four Rings –the highest ranking in the 2023 Quality Connections program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

With profound gratitude, we wish “…fair winds and following seas…” to long-time friend Mort Kantor who was a joyful, generous force behind the success of our annual Hospice Regatta. And we offer a tribute to our intrepid founder Sue Wierengo, whose vision and trailblazing work helped pave the way for hospice care organizations to open throughout Michigan.

In mid-March I spent a long day in Lansing advocating for hospice care and was reminded of the importance of our

“It takes special talents to create a program like hospice from scratch,” adds Mary Anne Gorman, past President and CEO of Harbor Hospice. “Sue had the drive and the courage to do it for the community she loved so much.”

Sue Wierengo — a trailblazer for hospice care

We are celebrating the life of our founder and good friend Sue Wierengo, who took on the challenge to make compassionate hospice care available throughout Michigan.

Florence “Sue” McKee Wierengo grew up in Muskegon and learned from her parents’ example the importance of giving back to her community. In the 1970s, she got excited about an emerging field of healthcare called hospice. She wanted to bring that care to West Michigan and she helped form a steering committee in 1979 to explore the idea.

After conducting a feasibility study, Sue knew that hospice care should be presented as an entirely new way of caring for a person at the end of their life, and she helped found Hospice of Muskegon County. The organization was incorporated in 1982 and run by volunteers. Sue became founding director. The first patient was accepted in January 1983.

By 1989, the organization had grown considerably. It had paid staff to support patient care and had both Medicare and Medicaid certification. After transitioning the leadership to Mary Anne Gorman, Sue became the first director of the Michigan Hospice Organization, lobbying the Michigan Legislature and healthcare organizations to make it easier for communities and healthcare providers to establish hospice organizations.

“Sue was a trailblazer for hospice in the true sense of the word,” says Mary Anne. “She had a vision for how end-of-life-care could be transformed, the passion to persuade others, and the community connections to be effective.”

“Hospice was personal for my mom because she lost a very close friend to cancer before hospice care was available in the area. That experience fueled her passion to start Hospice of Muskegon and then go on to lobby for hospice care state wide. And we all know that once Sue Wierengo got started, there was no stopping her!”

Katie Wierengo, Sue’s daughter

Forty years later, Sue’s initial all-volunteer organization has grown into Harbor Hospice and Harbor Palliative Care, the Leila & Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence, and the Scolnik Healing Center, with full-time staff and medical teams that provide the best hospice care, palliative care, and grief support to thousands of residents every year in five West Michigan counties.

“We are deeply grateful to Sue for her significant role in establishing compassionate, skilled hospice care here in West Michigan and throughout the state,” says Susan Houseman, president of Harbor Hospice. “From the beginning, Sue championed the importance of providing end-of-life care, not in the sterile hospital environment but in the warmth of a patient’s home, surrounded by their families and everything familiar to them.”

Sue passed away January 19 at The Cottages in Fremont.

Mort passed away February 26. To the end, he was a quiet, gentle man, loved and respected, it seems, by everyone who knew him.

Susan Houseman President and CEO

How can you help?

1

If you know a child age six through 14 who is struggling with the loss of a loved one and would like to attend Camp Courage, complete the application on our website, or call our main office at 231-728-3442.

2

We have many roles for volunteers before, during and after camp. If you’d like to volunteer, call 231-728-3442 and ask to talk with someone about all the opportunities.

Jules Terry is a development coach at the National Ability Center in Park City Utah. She was a ski racer for years until a terrible accident set her back. This winter, she flew to Japan to enjoy the deep powder skiing there. She is strong.

Still, she says volunteering at Camp Courage last year was one of the toughest things she has ever done in her life.

“I learned so much from the children about how to have courage and smile, and that it’s okay to cry,” she says. “Those kids live courage every day.”

Each summer, Camp Courage welcomes children from all over West Michigan who are grieving the death of someone they loved. For three days and two nights at Pioneer Trails Camp in northern Muskegon County, the children get to play games and swim in beautiful Big Blue Lake. They tell stories and work on crafts, and in the evening, they gather around the campfire.

“The campers are often experiencing their first major loss, and everything they do at Camp Courage is focused on helping make their grief process feel normal,” says Pamela Wingard, manager of Social Work and Counseling Services. “For example, the craft projects are designed to help children relate to a memory of their loved one, and that usually invites them to share a story of that person. That process allows them to connect with other children who have also lost a loved one. Instead of feeling alone in their grief, they realize they have people around them who understand.”

That can be a big relief for campers who feel isolated or are deeply sad and don’t know how to talk about it. As volunteer Bob Harter observed, “At Camp Courage, the children get to unload the burden they have been carrying.”

“Children have a healthy way of grieving,” adds Pamela. “They can be tearful and distraught one moment and ready to go out and play in the next. We invite that natural process to take place. It allows them to incorporate their loss into daily living.”

“If we can help our campers sleep better at night,” says Jules, “if we can answer their questions and let them know we are in their corner, we can help their healing process.”

Because we want to be sure no child misses out on attending Camp Courage for financial reasons, we charge only a $10 registration fee, which is waived if needed, and we raise the entire cost—roughly $700 for each camper. We look forward to welcoming 40 campers this summer, and your gift to the Harbor Hospice Foundation in any amount will help make that happen! Thank you!

Camp Courage Counselor

My first year after high school, I was a mentor for 7th and 8th graders, and I realized I liked helping kids, so I decided to volunteer to be a counselor at Camp Courage. I wanted to be the person for those kids that I did not have growing up, someone to help show them the ropes.

Camp was lovely and touching. I didn’t realize how much impact you can have on kids in three days. Day one, they didn’t want to talk, but by the end of day three, no one wanted to leave, and they were making plans to come back this summer! I’ll be there this summer, too. I don’t want to let them down.

I have a passion for Harbor Hospice and I enjoy working with kids. This will be my third year as a counselor at Camp Courage. What brings me back is the campers. I feel blessed to be there for them and to be a resource for them. I also learn so much from them. Being a counselor has been a transformative experience.

Kristine Jordahl

Camp Courage Counselor

Pamela Wingard and campers try a new craft project

Circles of Giving

How You Can Help

Would you like to play a larger role in supporting adults and children in your community who need palliative, hospice or grief care? Do you want to put your company in the spotlight as a champion for West Michigan families?

Each gift you make to the Harbor Hospice Foundation covers a portion of the organization’s capital and operational costs that are not covered by insurance or Medicare. Quite simply, you make it possible for us to walk with patients and families through some of the most difficult times of their lives — wherever they live in our region, even in the most remote corners and rural communities, and regardless of their ability to pay for care.

If you are moved to give, you can go to our website at harborhospicemi.org and click on the “Ways to Give” button. We’ve also included a QR code here. If you scan it with your smart phone, you will be directed to the Harbor Hospice website where you’ll find information about all our programs and how you can get involved.

My grandmother and great aunt were residents at the Leila & Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence many years ago. I was so pleased with the care they had, and with the facility. The Poppen is welcoming to visiting friends and family members, and it was comfortable for all of us to be there. It felt like a second home, not at all clinical. When the weather was nice, we were able to take my grandmother outside and enjoy the gardens.

Everyone dies, and Harbor Hospice helps people move through that part of their life that we all have to experience. It has touched many hearts, and my heart called me to donate. I want to give the most where I can, and Harbor Hospice is my main focus. My clients and other business owners love that I support the Harbor Hospice Foundation.

Linda Boyd, VP of LHR Properties/Tridonn Development

Stories From Friends

In this newsletter, we are honored to introduce you to several friends of Harbor Hospice who share with you why they’ve joined a donor group.

For more information, we invite you to call Ammy Seymour at 231-728-3442, or send her an e-mail at ASeymour@harborhospicemi.org. Thank you for joining us in our mission.

Legacy Circle — Supporting your community beyond your lifetime

When you designate a gift of any size to the Harbor Hospice Foundation in your trust or will, you are helping assure that our Circle of Care for patients and their families will continue even after your passing. Let us know if you have included the Foundation in your estate plan and we will gratefully recognize you as a member of our Legacy Circle!

I encourage my clients to include charitable giving in their estate plan because it’s the client’s last message to their family and to their community about how to take care of the people, the programs, and the organizations that matter, and to ensure that the same care and consideration my client gives in life continues even after their death. That’s why I put Harbor Hospice in my estate plan. I care about the opportunities Harbor offers families in this community, and I am committed to sharing what I have with Harbor Hospice in the form of a legacy gift. It’s one way to help Harbor Hospice serve future families when I’m gone.

Leaving a legacy is also a way to inspire others to give back. Living with purpose, setting an example — those values have been important to me since high school. Legacy giving is one more way to demonstrate our commitment to something important to us. I hope my children will look back at my life and know that I was committed to the things I believed in — to the end.

Merica S. Dobry Estate Planning Attorney Warner Norcross + Judd

Corporate Partners — Where marketing and philanthropy meet

Our Corporate Partners make an annual financial gift to the Harbor Hospice Foundation to support our care for adults and children throughout our region, and in turn, we promote our partners in our newsletters and annual reports, at community events, and on social media. We also help drive business their way by linking their website to ours. It’s a win for everyone!

Granny and I were very close. One day we learned she had a fractured hip and her breast cancer had metastasized to her bones. It was suggested that she move to the Leila & Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence, but she had no income and few resources. When I asked what I needed to come up with as a deposit so she could be admitted, I was told not to worry because the community supports the Poppen and there were funds that would cover bills her insurance did not pay. Within three hours of that conversation, Granny was settled into her room at the Poppen. She had five really good weeks there. The staff and volunteers were amazing, and I was able to enjoy my time with her every morning and evening.

Part of the reason I opened Real Estate West is so I can give back to my community where I feel I can have the biggest impact. Our experience with the Poppen was so positive I knew I wanted to support Harbor Hospice. I became a Compassionate Giver and made my company a Harbor Hospice Foundation Corporate Partner. I feel really good knowing the Poppen is providing excellent care for other patients like my Granny, and that no one is turned away for lack of being able to pay.

Thomas A. Serio, Owner, Broker, Realtor Real Estate West

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Allen

Mrs. Mary Ann Bard*

Mr. Douglas Bard

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Blacklock

Mr. Fred Cooper*

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Dobry

Ms. Mary Anne Gorman

Mr. John Gorton and Mrs. Laurie Poppen

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Grunwald

Mrs. Leona Mary Harriman*

Jody A. Miller Living Trust*

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kwiecien

Mr. Larry and Mrs. Lynne Larsen

Mr. Ray Mazurkiewicz*

Mr. Larry* and Nancy Medema

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Mellema

Mr. Roger Morgenstern

Mrs. Cari Noble

Mr. Laurin Ramsey*

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Rauschert

Ms. Leila Reynolds

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Seymour

Mr. and Mrs. Terry Simon

Ms. Kim Suarez and Mr. Ed Polakis

Ms. Sue Syverson

Mr. and Mrs. Tim Thill

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Youngdahl

Anonymous - Six *deceased

Barry’s Greenhouse and Landscaping Blended Furnture Market

CareLinc Medical Equipment

ChoiceOne Bank

Cofessco Fire Protection, LLC

Core Realty Partners

Fricano’s Muskegon Lake Great Lakes Dock & Materials, LLC

Hines Corporation

Howmet Aerospace

Imperial Dade

JC Jordy Camilleri

Jackson Merkey Contractors,

Compassionate GIVERS

Amber Wallace

Ammy Seymour

Amy Strach

Arlene DeKam

Bobbie Hilleary

Bonnie K. Adamczak-Brown

Caitlin Fulton

Chad Shelner

Cheri Pernot

Connie Learman

Darlene Collet

Dee Kwiecien

Heather Brolick

Irene Pierson

Janice McDonald

Jennifer Briggs Russell

Jennifer Chupailo

Judy O’Brien

Julie Johnson

Karen Panozzo

Kim Suarez

Kristi Nagengast

Kristine Jordahl

Linda Boyd

Linda Siscoe

Lisa Metzdorf

Liz Murphy

Mary Anne Gorman

Merica Dobry

Mhairi Blacklock

Mike Olson

Pam Babbitt

Pamela Wingard

RandiLynn Talsma

Richard Vanderputte-McPherson

Robin Anderson

Roger Morgenstern

Sally Bonter

Shannon Enders

Sheli Vanderlinde

Shelley Comstock

Susan Houseman

Susan Cloutier-Crain

Thomas A. Serio

Wendy Kersman

Compassionate Givers making the best care possible now!

Three times a year, Compassionate Givers meet to learn about a program need such as a state-of-the-art medication dispenser, new technology, or therapies that are not covered by insurance. At a fourth meeting, held in December, they collectively vote to choose which one they will fund. Leadership Donors support that choice with a gift of $1,000. Rising Leaders support with a gift of $500, and the impact of their funding is immediate!

I am a Compassionate Giver because I don’t want anyone to experience what I did. My parents died when I was young, before hospice care was a reality. I was 16 when my father was dying, and I was not allowed to be with him. My mother lived in an old house that was not equipped for me to be able to physically care for her, so I had to have her admitted to the hospital. I could not honor her desire to die at home, and that tore me up for many years. I want people to be able to die how and where they want, surrounded by the people who love them, and Harbor Hospice makes that possible.

Janice McDonald, DO

Mr. William Baldridge

Mr. and Mrs. Rich Bartrem

Ms. Sally Bonter

Mr. David Brown and Mrs. Bonnie Adamczak-Brown

Dr. David Dora

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Essex

Ms. Mary Anne Gorman

Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Harriman

Mrs. Enid Holly

Susan & Burton Houseman

Ms. Susan Jackson

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Jackson

Ms. Kristine Jordahl

Dr. and Mrs. Dick Kamps

Mr. and Mrs. Dan Kuznar

Mr. Will Meier

Mrs. Kathy Moore

Ms. Evelyn Morford

Mr. Roger Morgenstern

Mr. and Mrs. Don Nagengast

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Olthoff

Dr. Veronica Petty

Laurie Poppen & Family

Ms. Mary Price

Mrs. Judy Rahrig

Ms. Leila Reynolds

Mr. and Mrs. Terry Simon

Rev. Eileen Stoffan

Mr. and Mrs. Tim Thill

Sustaining Circle — Bridging gaps and assuring the future

Members of the Sustaining Circle give an initial gift of $1,000 or more to the Harbor Hospice foundation, and pledge that same gift each year for five more years. Their support helps cover major expenses incurred by Harbor Palliative Care, our Leila & Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence, and our Bob & Merle Scolnik Healing Center that are not covered by insurance. And their pledges make it possible for us to plan ahead so we can maintain these three programs at full capacity for West Michigan patients and families.

Harbor Hospice is one of the true jewels in Muskegon’s crown. The services they provide to the residents of West Michigan are at the highest level, unmatched anywhere. I believe in the uniqueness of the Leila & Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence and what it provides for patients who don’t want to die at home or who need more care than family and friends can provide. It is welcoming and peaceful. The staff and volunteers are exceptional, and I want to help assure that we will always be able to maintain the quality we have there today.

David Dora, DO Retired physician

We Honor Veterans

Embracing their stories, honoring their journey

Larry Friday can relate to the Veterans he talks with because he is one. He served in the US Armed Forces from 1964–68 and was crew chief on an F-105 fighter bomber. He knows the importance of recognizing Veterans for their service— whatever it was—and to acknowledge the sacrifices made by family members of Veterans as well.

A few years ago he had the opportunity to watch our Hospice volunteers do a recognition ceremony for a patient who was a Veteran, and he knew he had found a calling.

I was so impressed. I knew I wanted to do this! says Larry, who is one of five Veteran volunteers in our We Honor Veterans program. He offers these thoughts:

Vet–to–Vet Cafes

Once each quarter, we hold a gathering for Veterans and their families, where they can have coffee and donuts and enjoy fellowship with other Veterans. It’s a safe space for them to talk and share stories. The Veterans have grown to love them. It’s comfortable and there is no agenda.

Vet-to-Vet visits

People who have not served in the armed forces can’t relate to the needs and issues of Vets. When another Veteran visits them, they know they can share their thoughts with someone who understands how they feel. I help them understand the importance of their service, whether it was during wartime or not, overseas or stateside. And I thank their families as well.

Pinning Ceremony

It is a humbling opportunity to honor our patients who are receiving hospice or palliative care and are Veterans. I am always moved when I put a special pin on the Veteran and thank them for their service. Some, especially

those who served in Vietnam, have never felt welcomed home. This ceremony can change that. Sometimes Vets tell me they don’t deserve the recognition. They don’t feel that what they did was significant. I tell them, ‘When you took your oath, you signed on to take care of this country. Maybe you didn’t go to the jungle or load a rifle on your shoulder, but you promised to defend this country, and for that, you are worthy of being recognized.’

One reluctant Veteran told me the pinning made him feel great, and that made me want to do the next one and the next one. Often the events are as much for family members who are pleased to see their mother or father or spouse honored.

Recently I did a pinning for a man at the Leila & Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence who was unresponsive and close to passing. I used our time together to thank him and to say good bye to my brother Veteran. This is a wonderful thing Harbor Hospice does for Veterans and their families.

Attaining Level 5 Partnership

We are proud that Harbor Hospice is a Level 5 partner, the highest level in We Honor Veterans, a collaboration of the Veterans’ Administration and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. The program assures that organizations maintain the required high standards of care for Veterans, which includes offering guidance and resources based on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment to help guide Veterans toward a peaceful ending.

Thank you to Larry Friday and fellow Veteran volunteers Lonnie Keech, Doug Brown, Bob Bierenga, and Tom Maycroft, for the kindness, respect and honor they offer each of our Veteran patients and their families.

Campers & Volunteers at Camp Courage

Please help us maintain accurate records for mailings. Name and address printed correctly? Wish to unsubscribe or receiving more copies than necessary? Email info@HarborHospiceMI.org or call 1.800.497.9559. Thank you. Connect with us on Haven’t signed up for e-Hospice stories and news? Stay up to date by signing up on our website HarborHospiceMI.org

Enrich Your Life

Become a Volunteer

Volunteers play a vital role in our care of patients and their families. We offer training and many opportunities to share your time and your skills. Come join us! Contact Amber Wallace at 231-728-6805.

Calendar of Events

Purse Auction

Sunday May 5, 1 p.m.

Fraternal Order of Eagles, Whitehall. Open to the public!

This is our 7th purse auction and it gets more exciting every year! You’ll find purses starting at $1, plus designer bags you can bid on in a silent auction and during a robust live event with auctioneer Nicole Popps!

Community members and artists from the Arts Council of White Lake — Nuveen Center also contribute fabulous hand bags they have embellished! All proceeds help fund Camp Courage at Pioneer Trails Camp on Big Blue Lake for children who are grieving the loss of someone they loved.

Harbor Hospice Regatta

August 14, Pre-race festivities begin at 4 p.m. The Regatta begins at 6:30 p.m.

Muskegon Yacht Club

Come out and watch sailing enthusiasts in a glorious demonstration of support for our patients and families at the 17th annual Harbor Hospice Regatta on Muskegon Lake. Sign up to race, or stay shoreside and take part in activities at the Muskegon Yacht Club, which hosts the Regatta every year. This popular race is part of the National Hospice Regatta Alliance, which has collectively raised more than $25 million for hospice care across the country. For more information and to register for the Regatta, call Harbor Hospice at 231-728-3442.

Horses for Harbor Hospice

September 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Muskegon County Trail Riders Association, Hall Road Staging Area, Muskegon

Bring your horse and ride the beautiful trails at your leisure. No horse of your own? Come for all the other fun activities! Enjoy majestic Clydesdales, a huge silent auction, horse-drawn wagon rides, door prizes and lunch! Admission includes tickets to all the action, plus a take-home goody bag. Funds raised support the Harbor Hospice Bob & Merle Scolnik Healing Center and its lifechanging grief support programs. Register online at harborhospicemi.org/ways-to-give/ horses-for-harbor. For more information, call Melissa at 616-638-0111.

1050 W. Western Ave., Suite 400

Muskegon, MI 49441

231.728.3442 – Muskegon

231.873.0359 – Oceana

231.845.5060 – Mason

616.844.3330 – Ottawa

HarborHospiceMI.org

My idea to start this auction came when I first heard about Camp Courage. Emotions around grief are hard to navigate, especially for children, and often the adults they would normally turn to are trying to deal with their own grief. Spending three days and two nights at Comp Courage helps children understand they are not alone. They have the trained ear of counselors plus they make new friends and get to have a lot of summer camp fun. It is a life-changing experience for many of them.

Ashley Spencer, Chair

The Harbor Hospice Regatta is a fulfilling and rewarding event that allows Muskegon Yacht Club members and staff to give back to our community. The need for hospice care has affected all of us in one way or another and this Regatta is a way for us to recognize and support the meaningful mission of Harbor Hospice. It’s always a fun and rewarding day!

Kim Nguyen, General Manager, Muskegon Yacht Club

Horses have been a healing tool for me through the tragic death of my first husband and the passing of family members and friends. Being with my horses keeps me grounded and balanced. Trail riders like to ride for a cause, and I’ve been working with patients and riding horses for more than two decades, so I thought, “Why not share all that with others?” Several of us decided to create a therapy and fundraising event that would be another tool for helping people through grief and healing. There are so many things to do at Horses for Harbor Hospice. People especially love the wagon rides. It’s a fun day!

Melissa Dewitt, Harbor Hospice Nurse Aide

NEWSLETTER STAFF Susan Houseman, President/CEO Ammy Seymour, Director of Development Jean Williams, Communications Specialist Sheila Warners, design Susan Newhof, writer