Hospice in the News 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rosemary Collins, Public Relations Manager
Day, 716-686-8259; Cell, 716-570-2090;rcollins@palliativecare.org

HOSPICE BUFFALO TO PRESENT HOPE, CARE & DIGNITY AWARDS
M&T Bank, Dr.Yashu Satchidanand, Jock & Betsy Mitchell, and Rev. Michael Chapman to receive award

 

October 2, 2008. Cheektowaga, NY - More than 900 guests will be on hand when Hospice Buffalo presents M & T Bank, Yashu Satchidanand, M.D., Rev. Michael Chapman, and Jock and Betsy Mitchell with its Hospice Hope, Care and Dignity Award this Friday evening, Oct. 3. The Awards are being presented to the group for their generous support and collaborative partnership with Hospice Buffalo.

M&T Bank is being honored by Hospice for its leadership giving and volunteer support. Over the years, many M&T staff has offered their expertise to Hospice's fundraising events and initiatives. Most recently, M&T's Charitable Foundation presented $100,000 toward the capital needs of the Mary & Ralph C. Wilson Counseling Center, home to Life Transitions Center and Essential Care for Children. M&T was also instrumental in the opening of the St. John Baptist/Hospice Buffalo House with a gift of $100,000 to support the nation's first Hospice House developed by a church and a hospice organization.

Yashu Satchidanand, M.D., known as "Dr. Satch" is being honored for her integral role in Hospice's development and growth. She began volunteering for Hospice Buffalo in 1985 and was one of Hospice's first physicians serving in a volunteer role, providing medical care to Hospice patients in their home. Dr. Satch worked for Hospice until 1996 and began a palliative (comfort-care) practice in area nursing homes and patient residences. She joined St Joseph's Hospital in 2001 and started the Hospital's Palliative Care Consultation Service which has cared for more than 1,500 patients.

Five years ago, Rev. Michael Chapman, senior pastor of St. John Baptist Church in Buffalo approached Hospice Buffalo to partner with him to build a Hospice House to serve the urban community. Rev. Chapman worked with Hospice officials to secure funding and support to open the nation's first Hospice House developed by a church and a hospice organization. The St. John Baptist/Hospice Buffalo House serves the entire community and is an 8-bed residence for hospice-eligible patients who are unable to remain at home. The Hospice House opened in July 2008 on Maple St. in Buffalo.

Jock and Betsy Mitchell became involved with Hospice Buffalo when Betsy's father, Harlan Swift, needed hospice care at home for leukemia. The Mitchells have assumed countless volunteer and leadership roles for Hospice Buffalo and the Hospice Foundation of WNY. The Hospice Mitchell Campus in Cheektowaga is named after the Mitchell family in recognition of their great support.

The Hope, Care and Dignity Awards are part of the Hospice's annual Harvest Festival, a celebration of Hospice friends and family that is presented by the Buffalo Bills. The event is expected to raise more than $290,000 to support hospice care in Erie County.

Hospice Buffalo and its affiliates serve individuals with serious illness and their families and caregivers through a continuum of care spanning the course of illness and bereavement. More than 550 patients each day receive hospice care in homes, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, group homes, hospice residences and at the Mary and Ralph Wilson, Jr. Hospice Inpatient Unit located at the Hospice Mitchell Campus.