SPRING 2022
Donation Allows for Land Purchase Adjacent to the Whatcom Hospice Campus A very generous donor recently enabled the Whatcom Hospice Foundation to purchase an 8.82-acre parcel of land directly adjacent to the campus of Whatcom Hospice at 2902 Douglas Avenue in the Happy Valley Neighborhood in Bellingham. The seller of the property was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The purchase price for the property has not been disclosed; however, threequarters of the total price was covered by a single, anonymous donation to the Whatcom Hospice Foundation; the remaining quarter was paid for out of Foundation reserves. Whatcom Hospice Foundation is an independent 501c (3) nonprofit organization that wholly owns the property and buildings that together comprise the Whatcom Hospice campus. The Foundation contracts with PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center to manage the day-to-day operations of Whatcom Hospice. The Whatcom Hospice Foundation plans to further the mission of the
This aerial view of the Whatcom Hospice Campus shows a portion of the newly acquired vacant parcel at the bottom of the photo, just below the tree line.
Foundation by potentially expanding the hospice facility and, most importantly, maintaining a tranquil environment for patients and their families. The Foundation’s board president, Lynda Erickson, explained that “The Whatcom Hospice Foundation and staff of Whatcom Hospice are profoundly appreciative of this opportunity to maintain and perhaps expand the serene surroundings that bring comfort to those at their end of life, and to their families.” There are no immediate plans for site development; the Whatcom Hospice
Foundation simply recognized this tremendous opportunity when it was presented and acted to ensure its legacy. The City of Bellingham was also interested in purchasing the property. The Foundation is intent on better understanding the city’s vision for the property, as well as the vision of the Happy Valley Neighborhood Association. One thing is clear: all three entities recognize the value of open space in a congested area of Bellingham and the desire to retain at least a portion of the property as such.
Make a Gift to Whatcom Hospice and Receive Income for Life Through a Charitable Gift Annuity with PeaceHealth that’s directed to Whatcom Hospice, you can make a lasting commitment to providing dignity, respect and comfort for those nearing the end of their journey — all while you receive income for life. A charitable gift annuity (or “CGA”) is a simple arrangement between you and Whatcom Hospice. In exchange for your gift, you receive fixed, guaranteed payments for life for one or two people. It can be you and your spouse or others. The amount paid is based on the age(s) of those who receive the income. 2
You can receive payments quarterly or once a year, made directly into your checking account. Since you receive the charitable deduction when you make the gift, you can reduce your taxes and increase your income at the same time for the first few years. (That is, if you itemize your taxes you can claim this deduction.) The amount of the payment each period is also based on whether only you or you and a loved one are receiving lifetime income. Those receiving payments are “beneficiaries” and if there is only one beneficiary, the payment is larger. And, if you establish the CGA for
two people, the rate is guaranteed over the lives of both beneficiaries. In addition, you can fund the charitable gift annuity with a variety of resources besides cash, including stocks, bonds and other securities. If you have held these securities for a long time, your capital gains might be substantial. By funding the gift annuity with highly appreciated assets, you bypass capital gains taxes. Secure, fixed income for life is a key reason that many of our donors establish charitable gift annuities. Furthermore, this is a mutually beneficial way to make a significant gift to Whatcom Hospice that might not otherwise be possible. For more information about charitable gift annuities and other estate gift methods, please contact:
Karen Haggen, Development Officer (360) 788-6851 khaggen@peacehealth.org
Hospice Remembers Patients with Crane Ceremony On a cool morning in January, the Whatcom Hospice Bereavement Team gathered with hospice staff to release 1,089 paper cranes in a ceremony to remember hospice patients lost last year. Volunteers and staff lovingly made the origami cranes used in the ceremony. In 2021, Whatcom Hospice cared for 1,089 individuals in their final hours, each worthy of dignity, choice and compassion. Despite the impending passing, the team got to know each patient, even if just a little bit, through their story, their precious last words and compassionate touch. During the ceremony, hospice team members recited the name of a deceased patient as a crane was lowered into the whispering fire. As the ashes floated away, they watched in silence, fondly remembering the patients who had touched them so deeply.
Corporate Partner Spotlight
Realtor Commissions benefit Whatcom Hospice We are very grateful to Coldwell Banker Bain real estate brokers Wayne Kwiatkowski and and Max Kwiatkowski for their unique partnership with Whatcom Hospice Foundation. Each time a Whatcom Hospice Foundation supporter buys or sells a home with Wayne or Max, they and Coldwell Banker Bain will donate an amount equal to 10% of the commission received to Whatcom Hospice. Coldwell Banker Bain established the Community Partnership program as a way for the company and its brokers to give back to organizations that are Max (left) and Wayne Kwiatkowski, Realtors committed to the welfare of our communities. Since the program was created in 1988, Coldwell Banker brokers have donated more than $2 million to over 650 nonprofit organizations in Western Washington.
Over the past five years, Wayne and his son Max have given over $200,000 to local nonprofits through this program — and nearly $100,000 of that has been donated in the past two years alone. “As long as the money stays in Whatcom County, we are happy to give it,” says Wayne.
Board / Staff List Board of Directors Lynda Erickson President David Yorkston Vice-President Trisha McIntee Secretary Paul Twedt Treasurer Erin Baumgart Auction Co-Chair
Pattie Washburn Board Development Chair Doug Wight Past President Erika Buse Katherine Deets Linda Diebert Lindsie FratusThomas Lesa Ferguson
Carol Garguile Philip George Sylvia Holmstrom Tom Kenney Mike McCallum Richard McClenahan, MD Joyce Pedlow Charles Prosper Sarah Rothenbuhler Orphalee Smith Steve Swan Robert Tull
If you are planning on buying or selling property and would like a portion of the proceeds of your transaction to benefit patients and families served by Whatcom Hospice, please call Wayne at (360) 961-1169.
Thanks, RAM Construction, for the Children’s Activity Bags! As the owner of RAM Construction, former Whatcom Hospice Foundation board member Mike Hammes is passionate about improving the lives of others through random acts of kindness. This is the culture he and his wife, Wendy, have built within their company. Recently the RAM Construction team picked Whatcom Hospice as the recipient of an act of “RAM-dom Kindness.” They suprised us with over 100 children’s activity bags that will be given to children visiting a loved one at Hospice House. The bags will also be used by our Bereavement Team as they support children and teens experiencing a loss. Thank you, Mike, Wendy and team for all you do for others!
Amie Carr, Volunteer Coordinator and Erin Doucette, Administrative Specialist, display the donated bags
Foundation Staff Anne Rasmussen, MBA, CFRE Chief Development Officer
Emma Harris Special Events Specialist
Whatcom Hospice Foundation
Tricia Head Foundations Assistant
Ann Prater Interim Executive Director
Britt Kane Assoc. Development Officer
Shaaron Coleman Stewardship Coordinator Jennifer Fix, CFRE Development Officer
Whatcom Hospice Leadership Shelley Rice, MD Medical Director, Hospice
Mailing address: 2901 Squalicum Parkway Physical address: 3001 Squalicum Parkway Bellingham, WA 98225 phone: (360) 788-6859 email: info@whatcomhospice.org web: whatcomhospice.org
Connie Gabelein Operations Coordinator
Gurpreet Dhillon, MBA System Director of Hospice
Karen Haggen Development Officer
Jodi Newcomer, RN, BSN Nurse Manager
Whatcom Hospice (Clinical Services) 2800 Douglas Avenue Bellingham, WA 98225 (360) 733-5877
Please notify us if you do not wish to receive fundraising materials from Whatcom Hospice Foundation. Contact us at (360) 788-6859 or info@whatcomhospice.org.
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Non Profit Org U.S. POSTAGE
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LITHTEX NW 2901 Squalicum Parkway Bellingham, WA 98225
Hospice in the Hospital With support from donors like you, Whatcom Hospice helps more than 1,000 families per year navigate the crisis of terminal illness. Thanks to a new pilot program, when necessary, the Whatcom Hospice team can deliver specialized comfort care to inpatients at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. One such patient was Diane, who was suffering from end-stage pancreatic cancer. Diane wanted to receive hospice care at home but was admitted to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center for a severe infection the day before her scheduled hospice intake visit. Our Whatcom Hospice GIP (general inpatient) team transitioned her to hospice
services and worked with her hospital care team to provide the very best symptom management possible. Because Diane had chosen comfort care instead of continuing to pursue life-saving interventions, her whole hospital experience was more comfortable and home-like. The lights in her room were lowered, and she was not kept awake by beeping machines and intrusive monitors. To allow her to rest quietly, her vitals were checked less frequently. Diane was discharged and continued receiving hospice care in her home. Patients with terminal illness can qualify for general inpatient care under their insurer’s hospice care
benefit if they need to be hospitalized to manage severe symptoms or complications of their disease. Since the pilot program began in January 2021, Whatcom Hospice has cared for more than 75 patients at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.
To donate to Whatcom Hospice Foundation, please visit whatcomhospice.org or call 360-788-6859.