Granite VNA launches community-wide campaign to raise $2M for hospice care

CONCORD ― Following significant early philanthropic support, Granite VNA, New Hampshire’s largest not-for-profit home health and hospice care provider, has launched the community-wide phase of its $2 million Legacy & Promise capital campaign for Hospice House. Having already achieved 80% of its goal ($1.6 million) through private leadership gifts, the agency invites community members to help cross the finish line to ensure Hospice House will continue to serve New Hampshire families for generations to come.

The Legacy & Promise campaign has dual goals: to renovate and refresh interior spaces at Hospice House, including patient rooms and common areas, to create even more welcoming and comfortable spaces for patients and their loved ones, and to strengthen the Hospice House endowment to ensure long-term sustainability and access for all patients who need it, especially those facing financial barriers.

“We have reached this significant milestone thanks to the generosity and support of many people, and we are deeply grateful,” said Granite VNA President and CEO Jim Culhane. “Hospice House is an essential resource and plays a vital role in our state’s healthcare landscape. By opening this campaign to the broader community, we invite everyone who believes in compassionate end-of-life care to help us reach our goal and ensure this important resource serves families long into the future.”

Established in 1994, Granite VNA Hospice House was the first dedicated hospice facility in New Hampshire and one of the first in the U.S. The agency’s promise to the community was that Hospice House would be, “a place where patients with life-limiting illnesses could receive end-of-life care in a home-like environment.”

Thirty-two years later, this promise holds true. Since opening its doors, more than 4,500 community members have received compassionate end-of-life care, including more than 400 patients last year alone. Just as importantly, Hospice House offers a caring, supportive environment where patients’ family members and friends can focus on spending meaningful time together and creating lasting memories.

“I cannot imagine our community without Hospice House to assist families through one of the most difficult times in their lives,” said Marjorie Burke of Weare, whose husband, Donald, received end-of-life care at Hospice House. “I will forever appreciate the care that Donald received but also the care that I received alongside him. Throughout his time at Hospice House, the staff supported me in every way imaginable and I can’t thank them enough.”

Granite VNA’s dedicated, specially trained Hospice House team of clinicians and volunteers provide patients and their loved ones with 24-hour nursing care, personal assistance, and individualized services and support, as well as spiritual care, pet therapy, music therapy, and bereavement support. The team has even been known to help patients realize unique last wishes, like a ride in a sports car, a visit from a special equine friend, and a personal performance by a barbershop quartet, to name a few.

“Throughout my career, Granite VNA hospice staff and volunteers always focused on taking real care of my patients as they went through the last stage of their lives while also tending to the needs of the patients’ families ― they consistently went above and beyond,” said Fred Briccetti, retired Concord Hospital oncologist and Legacy & Promise campaign steering committee member.

Every dollar contributed to the Legacy & Promise campaign will help Granite VNA reach its $2 million goal to ensure the future of Hospice House. To donate, visit granitevna.org/campaign or contact Granite VNA Director of Donor Relations Melissa Howard at 603-731-7757 or Melissa.Howard@granitevna.org.