Hosparus Health today announced it has raised $28 million in its People of Compassion comprehensive fundraising campaign to enhance and expand hospice and palliative care services in 41 counties in Kentucky and Indiana. The total surpasses its original goal of $24 million.   

Hosparus launched the campaign in January 2017 to address five critical areas of need: service enhancements and operational support; Louisville expansion; regional expansion; endowments and business development; and long-term sustainability through deferred gifts.   

“Our People of Compassion campaign is vital to enhancing our hospice and palliative care services and expanding those services to meet a significant increase in demand,” says David W. Cook, President and CEO. “This unique, five-year comprehensive campaign has enabled our organization to meet short-term needs while laying the financial foundation to support future opportunities. A catalyst for launching several new organizational programs, the impact of this campaign will continue to have ripple effects in how we better serve our communities for years to come.”  

Gifts in excess of $15 million toward service enhancements and operational support have allowed Hosparus to allocate significant funding to operations, including $890,000 to adult palliative care services provided under its Pallitus Health Partners brand. The campaign priority will also support enhancements to its Kourageous Kids pediatric program and specialty disease management programs for heart and lung care.

Gifts of just over $5.5 million toward Louisville expansion projects have allowed the organization to renovate its headquarters at 6200 Dutchmans Lane, make improvements to its Inpatient Care Center located at Norton Hospital Downtown, and reimagine its Louisville campus master plan, including the expansion of its Grief Counseling Center. 

A new expansion project was added to the campaign’s Louisville priorities in fall 2021 thanks to the overwhelming success of the campaign. Hosparus has always been committed to inclusion and equity, caring for patients of all ages and backgrounds. However, access to care can be a major barrier in some areas of Louisville. That’s why the organization will open a new office in early 2022 at the Republic Bank Foundation YMCA, located at 1720 W. Broadway, allowing for improved access to services in the West End community. The project will be funded by grants from The Gheens Foundation, Brown-Forman Corp., Norton Healthcare and individual donors. 

Nearly $1.5 million in funding earmarked for regional expansion has allowed Hosparus to grow its footprint in the Southern Indiana region with the opening of a new office in Jasper in 2019, and build a new community center in Campbellsville, Ky. (scheduled to begin construction in March 2022). The organization is also increasing funding to support programs in the Barren River and Central Kentucky regions.

Gifts of $1.5 million designated for endowment funds and new business development are funding innovation and technology updates, including a new electronic medical records system and a new HIPAA-compliant telehealth application, as well as sustainability initiatives, including an employee assistance fund, a patient and family assistance fund and an integrative therapies fund.

Deferred gifts and bequests designated in the amount of more than $6 million will help ensure the long-term viability of hospice and palliative care services for years to come. 

The largest gift to the campaign came from the estate of the late businessman, Jim Ryan, in the amount of $2.5 million. Significant corporate and foundation support was provided by the Irvin F. and Alice S. Etscorn Foundation, WHAS Crusade for Children, Kosair Charities, Indigo Foundation and Republic Bank. The Hosparus Health Thrift Shoppes in Elizabethtown and Campbellsville also contributed over $2.8 million. The campaign’s success was driven in large part by individual donations. In total, Hosparus received more than 43,000 gifts, with an average gift size of $640. 

“We’ve exceeded our expectations well beyond our imagination because of the compassion and generosity of our donors,” says Tawanda Owsley, Senior Vice President/Chief Development Officer. “The astounding success of our People of Compassion Campaign will allow us to serve more families than ever before who are navigating the challenges of serious illness — and reach them sooner in their healthcare journey.”