BERLIN, MD – February 22, 2021 – In a year like no other, donors came out in full force to support the annual Coastal Hospice “Be An Angel” campaign, donating a record-breaking $176,389. The primary fundraising effort helps offset patient costs not covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance and supports the organization’s Bereavement Program.
“No one is ever turned away from hospice care because of financial need, and that is only possible through the support of our amazing donors,” said Alane Capen, President of Coastal Hospice. “We had no idea what to expect this year, when so many have been hit so hard. I must tell you; it was unbelievably uplifting to see donations of all amounts roll in to break all of our previous fundraising records.”
Nearly 1,360 individual donors supported the drive with 1,561 total gifts – almost every one of them in the name of someone they wanted to remember or honor. Eight Angel Trees sprinkled throughout the region were decorated with elegant angel ornaments on which donors had written the names of those loved ones.
“There are so many people to thank because every donation is meaningful,” said Tammy Patrick, Director of Advancement. “Special thanks must go to the companies that displayed the trees; our Provider Relations Team which set them up, broke them down and delivered the angel ornaments; our Volunteer Services department and a team of hardy volunteers who assisted in collecting ornaments and mailing acknowledgements; our regional media for covering the drive; Coastal Style for their donation of a wonderful feature; and of course, our media partner, 47ABC WMDT whose commitment is remarkable.”
‘Be An Angel’ – An Annual Tradition on Delmarva and Beyond
Each holiday season, Coastal Hospice encourages its Lower Shore neighbors to be “angels” by including the organization in their year-end giving. This year’s theme was An Angel in your heart, they say, will give you guidance every day, an idea that clearly resonated as donations came in each day by mail, online and through a new text-to-donate program. Many were thrilled to hear their remembrances read on the WMDT Morning News each day, all month before Christmas.
Trees were hosted from Thanksgiving through the New Year at:
- WMDT Morning News
- Atlantic Hotel – Berlin
- Coastal Hospice Thrift Shop – Berlin
- Crisfield Elks Lodge #1044
- Crisfield American Legion Post #16
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Hurlock Town Hall
- Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina
More About Coastal Hospice
Coastal Hospice is a non-profit health care organization dedicated to caring for individuals who are facing life-limiting illnesses but do not want to be defined by them. Hospice care is a free Medicare and insurance benefit that is delivered in patients’ homes, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, at Coastal Hospice at the Lake (Salisbury, MD) and at the residential hospice, Stansell House (Ocean Pines, MD). Palliative care, family education, pediatric hospice care, bereavement care and other services are available as well.
Coastal Hospice celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2020. The organization serves Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties. Learn more about Coastal Hospice at www.coastalhospice.org or by calling 410-742-8732. Follow Coastal Hospice on Facebook and Instagram.
