Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation Grants $3.6 Million to Quality of Life Campaign

CLEVELAND, OH — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MARCH 4, 2025 — Hospice of the Western Reserve is honored to announce a transformative $3.6 million gift from the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation to support the Quality of Life capital campaign. This significant contribution will help fund the development of a new Hospice Care & Community Center on Cleveland’s Lake Erie shore, ensuring the continued delivery of exceptional end-of-life care for the Northern Ohio community.

The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation has a storied 32-year partnership with Hospice of the Western Reserve, playing a pivotal role in elevating the standard of end-of-life care in the region. A hallmark of this partnership was the Foundation’s 1993 gift to fund the original construction of the current hospice house on the lakeshore, Ohio’s first hospice care center and one of the few in the nation at the time. Since then, the Foundation has supported other Hospice of the Western Reserve pivotal advancements such as the Pediatric Hospice Program, the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Bereavement Center, the Ames Family Hospice House in Westlake, and the Care Solutions Center. 

“At every critical point in our history, the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation has been there to help us grow and innovate,” said Bill Finn, president and CEO of Hospice of the Western Reserve. “This extraordinary gift is no exception. It will allow us to expand our services and provide a state-of-the-art care and community center, ensuring that every member of our community has access to compassionate, high-quality end-of-life care.”

The new Hospice Care & Community Center will feature 32 private patient rooms with views of Lake Erie, enhanced family spaces, and advanced technology to support complex care needs. It will also include a community center offering bereavement support services and programs for patients and families, creating a healing space for connection and support.

Pam Alexander, President of the Board of Managers of the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation, emphasized the Foundation’s commitment to healthcare innovation and equity: “The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation is proud of our longstanding partnership with Hospice of the Western Reserve, supporting their elevated standard of care for all individuals, especially the most vulnerable in our community. We are honored to play a role in ensuring Hospice of the Western Reserve will continue bringing the highest quality not-for-profit care for those at the end of life.”

To date, the Quality of Life campaign has raised $20.2 million for the $25 million project, including the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation’s gift.

About Hospice of the Western Reserve
Hospice of the Western Reserve provides palliative and end-of-life care, caregiver support, and bereavement services throughout Northern Ohio. In celebration of the individual worth of each life, we strive to relieve suffering, enhance comfort, promote quality of life, foster choice in end-of-life care, and support effective grieving. For more information, visit www.hospicewr.org.