Building Our Future Care

We are honored to be part of a compassionate community that supports our mission at Empath Health. Every gift to our Suncoast Hospice Foundation helps us provide more life-changing care, comfort and support needed for people and families touched by illness, loss and grief.

Empowered to Give
The Empath Health Women’s Giving Network (WGN) was started in 2016 with 12 founding members joining together in philanthropy to bring extra care and support to the community. The group’s mission is to create or expand innovative programs and services of Empath Health.

WGN members meet annually to evaluate and select grants for specialized areas of need that fall outside of our reimbursed care and otherwise may not be funded. Grant funding is drawn from the group’s pooled membership funds and distributed through Suncoast Hospice Foundation.

Membership

  • Commit to a minimum $1,000 contribution each year
  • Fund and award grants for programs and services with no reimbursed sources
  • Be an ambassador for Empath Health
  • Ultimate goal is 50 members

Empath Health’s WGN and other caring supporters in the community are vital to ensuring our care and services continue today and in the future. Thank you for making the journeys brighter for those we serve.

Empath Health Funded Projects in 2019

  • Train and certify a wound treatment nurse who will then train up to 100 other clinicians to provide specialized wound care to hospice and palliative care patients in their homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities or Suncoast Hospice Care Centers
  • Fabric and other sewing materials for Empath Health sewing volunteers to make neck and arm pillows, lap blankets, walker bags, catheter bag covers, head caps, activity bibs, and tiny caps and clothes for stillborn babies
  • Support for palliative arts volunteers to provide specialized Reiki education and training to additional volunteers allowing them to serve more patients and families
  • Empath Health’s Teen Volunteer Program received funds to provide Empath Health-branded logo t-shirts for teen volunteers across the organization
  • Memory/keepsake photoshoots for families with a seriously or terminally-ill child in hospice or palliative care
  • Evidence-based care kits to help patients manage their diseases, focusing on patients suffering with congestive heart failure and COPD, the top two diagnoses in our region for re-hospitalization
  • Funding for teen volunteers to provide pediatric hospice patients and families with special enhanced birthday party experiences

Join Now

For more information or to become a member of the Empath Health Women’s Giving Network,
contact Brooke Boccacino at (727) 523-3352 or email BrookeBoccacino@EmpathHealth.org.

Founding Members

  • Debbie Amrhein
  • Jamie Broome
  • Arlene Cohen
  • Gerry Goldhammer
  • Joan McCreary
  • Pattie Meek
  • Sandy Miller
  • Deborah Nicklaus
  • Katie Pemble
  • Fran Rinna
  • Susan Rooth
  • Kathy Wilder