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Our vision is to build a future in which every member of our community can experience quality of life at the end of life. Replacing our hospice care center on Lake Erie in Cleveland is the next step toward making this vision a reality.
Our Quality of Life capital campaign will help fund a new, state-of-the-art Hospice Care & Community Center on our existing lakeside property. This will allow us to deliver the highest level of end-of-life care in the highest quality care environment to ensure every patient and their family has access to the support and services they need in a welcoming and comfortable environment.
“What [HWR] did for us was very special. They cared for our mother and father as if they were their own parents. They cried with us, laughed with us and felt pain with us. They became a part of our family.”
- George Santosuosso
- George Santosuosso
“An updated care center that better integrates technology would allow us to better care for the patient and their loved ones. Plus, it’s what this community deserves.” - Kathryn Ilersich, Registered Nurse, Hospice of the Western Reserve | “A single-floor layout with more storage and equipment space would mean we can get food to patients quicker and better meet their needs. Because in a patient’s final moments, every moment counts.” - Shelly Walker, Dietary Team Leader, Hospice of the Western Reserve |
Building on Our Legacy of Compassionate Care
Throughout our 45-year history, we have served over 150,000 patients and their loved ones, expanded our reach in response to our community’s needs, and continually enhanced our programs and facilities. We are a leader in end-of-life care, offering comprehensive hospice and palliative care, caregiver support, and bereavement services across 18 counties in Northern Ohio. We remain committed to caring for our patients and their loved ones wherever they need us during their end-of-life journey.
We Need You!
Your campaign support will help us build a more welcoming, efficient, and innovative Hospice Care & Community Center. This new space will allow us to continue to deliver hospice care, palliative care, bereavement services, and more in a state-of-the-art environment that rises to the level of care that our clinicians deliver every day. It will also enable us to better adapt to the ever-changing healthcare landscape through a more flexible space and deepen our engagement with the community through a dedicated Community Center. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to achieving our vision. We invite you to be part of this historic moment.
Help us achieve our goal!
$20.2 million out of our $25 million project need
If you have any questions about your donation, including other ways to give that maximize your impact, please contact Hospice of the Western Reserve Development at 855.475.0245.
Hospice of the Western Reserve is a 501(c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS.
All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
“When we arrived my Mother was embraced with such amazing care, it seemed there was this endless reservoir of compassion. Lena, Pam, my mother’s main nurses…they were incredible. Not just to my Mother, but to my family.”
- Mary Chiovitti
- Mary Chiovitti
Thank You to Our Campaign Leadership for Your Dedication to This Campaign!
William “Skip” Bowman
Campaign Chair
James Hambrick
Campaign Chair
Gwen Rifici
Campaign Leadership Committee
Stephanie Bowman
Campaign Chair
Lamont Mackley
Campaign Leadership Committee
Campaign Leadership Committee
“The warmth and support from everyone at Hospice of the Western Reserve was incredibly gratifying. They knew just how to help our family make it through a very tough situation.”
- Bill Conway, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Fairmount Minerals
- Bill Conway, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Fairmount Minerals
Campaign Overview
The campaign is called Quality of Life, reflecting our vision to ensure that every community member can experience quality of life at the end of life. Building the new Hospice Care & Community Center is the next step toward achieving this vision.
The state-of-the-art new Hospice Care & Community Center in Cleveland’s North Collinwood neighborhood facility will replace the care delivered at the existing Hospice House on East 185th Street.
When the existing Hospice House on E. 185th St. opened in 1995, it was a groundbreaking facility - the first of its kind in Ohio and one of only a few inpatient hospice centers nationwide. Since then, the needs of our community have evolved. There is now a growing demand for more complex care, and our staff and volunteers require a modern, more efficient facility to meet these challenges. Additionally, the current building is approaching costly maintenance and repairs that would disrupt patient care. Building a new facility ensures we can continue to meet our community’s needs for generations to come.
As a nonprofit agency, we priortize patient care over profit. In fact, most surplus revenue we receive is reinvested into patient care, programs, and expanding our services to best meet the needs of our community. Community-based nonprofit hospices tend to have higher quality scores, more frequent visits from medical staff, and more robust support programs for families and patients, including bereavement care.
Groundbreaking took place on September 18, 2024, with construction expected to last approximately 18 months. The new facility is anticipated to open in 2026, at which point we will transition care from the current hospice care center to the new facility.
Getting Involved
The new Hospice Care Center is set to open in 2026. If you or a loved one need care before then, our existing hospice facility on E. 185th is here. Contact us at 216.383.3700, 800.707.8921, or visit hospicewr.org.
Visit hospicewr.org/volunteers to learn how to join the Hospice of the Western Reserve volunteer team.
We accept a variety of giving vehicles, including cash, check and stock transfers. To explore all donation options, please contact the Hospice of the Western Reserve Development Team at 855.475.0245.
Yes, naming opportunities are available for gifts of all sizes. For details, contact the Development Team at 855.475.0245.
There are several ways to participate, including donating, volunteering, hosting fundraising events, and serving as ambassadors for the campaign. We invite you to learn more at hospicewr.org/QOL.
To set up a recurring donation, contact the Development Team at 855.475.0245 or visit hospicewr.org/QOL.
Facility Features and Services
The Community Center will serve as a hub for bereavement support services, educational programs and outreach, and activities and celebrations for patients and their families, providing a space for healing, learning and connection.
IPUs offer a safe, secure environment for patients who require intensive symptom management or urgent care that cannot be provided at home. These units also provide respite for caregivers and families during times of crisis. Hospice of the Western Reserve has four hospice IPUs in its 18-county coverage area, in Cleveland, Westlake, Medina and Sandusky. If not for these units, a patient in need of acute care would likely end up in a hospital.
The new center will have 32 beds.
The new Hospice Care Center will achieve LEED Silver certification, reflecting our commitment to environmental stewardship. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification recognizes sustainable building practices that reduce energy consumption, carbon footprint and waste while prioritizing green materials. Benefits include lower energy and water usage, reduced landfill waste, and improved air quality.
We have partnered with E4H, an award-winning architecture firm specializing in nonprofit healthcare, to design and build the new Hospice Care Center.
Staying Updated and Connected
Stay informed by visiting hospicewr.org/QOL for updates on the campaign and construction. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for additional news.
Yes, as construction progresses, tours will be scheduled. Visit hospicewr.org/QOL for updates in the coming months.
Honoring Legacy
Hospice of the Western Reserve is exploring options for the future of the Hospice House on the lake and its campus once the transition to the new care center is complete. The Hospice of the Western Reserve board of directors has charged the agency with finding the highest and best use of the property, and we are committed to ensuring that the property continues to benefit the community.
We are carefully considering how to honor the significance of the memorial bricks and the Vista Walk as we transition to the new facility. Updates will be shared as plans are finalized. If you have questions or concerns about your brick, please contact our Development Team at 216.298.0245.
Some garden features from the existing facility will transition to the new facility, though we are still assessing design plans and needs.
Honoring Loved Ones
Contact the Development Team at 855.475.0245 or visit hospicewr.org/QOL for details on honoring a loved one through a campaign gift.
Yes, you can simply include the following in the obituary: Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to: Hospice of the Western Reserve Foundation, P.O. Box 72101, Cleveland, OH 44192.
Yes, you can designate support for the new facility in your will. Your support will help offset construction costs, while applicable, and will support the continued annual maintenance of the new facility. If you have questions, please contact the Development Team at 855.475.0245.
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