HEALTAHR TCARE
An Extra Layer of Support
Suncoast Hospice Foundation
By Rafael J. Sciullo
Rafael J. Sciullo
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 137
The breadth and depth of expert
services and compassionate care
provided by Empath Health and
its member organizations are truly
only possible because of the generosity
of our donors, volunteers and other
community supporters like you.
Our Suncoast Hospice Foundation steps
in and provides much-needed support
for those who don’t have insurance; are
underinsured; can’t afford to pay for
services; have family members who are
impacted by their illness; have needs the
insurance companies won’t cover; have
non-medical needs impacting their overall
well-being and so much more.
A great example of this support is what
the Foundation did for our patient Roxanne.
She had advanced-stage COPD and was
being evicted from her home with two cats
that meant everything to her. Roxanne had
no family nearby and wanted to go home
to Maine to be with her niece – but she had
no way to get there, especially with her
beloved pets. The Foundation stepped in
to provide the support Roxanne needed
to get back home. They fostered her cats
while she was in our care center; they took
them to the vet to ensure all vaccinations
are many ways to support Empath Health
to help us continue providing expert,
compassionate care to the community.
Monetarily there are various opportunities
through planned gifts; tribute gifts;
corporate partnerships; commemorative
plaques; naming opportunities; and others.
And we think it’s important for you to
know that when you support Suncoast
Hospice Foundation, all money you donate
stays in this community.
In addition to monetary gifts, we have
three Resale Shops in Pinellas County
where you can shop, donate gently used
items, or volunteer your time to work in
one of the stores. We have numerous other
volunteer opportunities available as well.
Please check out EmpathHealth.org to
see how you can get involved today, or
continue to help the Suncoast Hospice
Foundation fill in the gaps for those
in need.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Rafael J. Sciullo is
president and CEO of Empath Health,
a nonprofit integrated network of care for
those affected by chronic or advanced illness.
For more information about services, call
(727) 467-7423 or visit EmpathHealth.org.
were updated; they provided luggage and
clothing she needed from our wonderful
Resale Shops; they purchased an airline
ticket and worked with the airline to
ensure she had everything she needed to
get home safely; and they provided her
with transportation to the airport. Suncoast
Hospice staff tucked her in on the plane,
made sure her oxygen supply was good
to go and her pets were comfortable. As
a result, Roxanne was able to spend her
remaining days with loved ones in her
home state.
Each year, the Foundation, which
supports all the member organizations
of Empath Health, raises more than $10
million to support hospice care, home
health, all-inclusive care for seniors,
advance care planning, HIV/AIDS services
and physician services for Pinellas and
Hillsborough Counties.
The support our Foundation – your
Foundation – provides the community
would not be possible without all of us
working together to make it happen. There