Each year, THE PLAYERS Championship spotlights local charities during the tournament, a different one for each day of Tournament Week.
On Saturday, March 15, that spotlight falls on The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, which raises funds to support critical programs offered by the nonprofit that have no regular funding resources. These “unfunded” programs include bereavement and veteran services, pet programs and Community PedsCare, the pediatric program.
“The big thing with Community Hospice is providing quality of life, compassionate care,” said Annie Tuttle, the foundation’s executive director, “and with these unfunded programs we are able to do just that, not only for the patients but for their families.”
Because Community PedsCare is largely supported by donors, not many hospice organizations are able to offer it. In fact, it is the organization’s largest unfunded program.
“We’re very blessed here in Jacksonville to have such a philanthropic community wanting to support these programs and make sure that our families and patients are getting the quality-of-life care that they deserve,” Tuttle said.
Recently, the organization broke ground on the Dorion Family Pediatric Center — named for a local, philanthropic family who have long played a key role in making compassionate care available here. The center will elevate the Community PedsCare program.
Tuttle described this new facility as “an environment that will allow our pediatric patients to come together and be part of their community, where they can receive the different therapies that we offer.” This may include music or sensory therapy or bereavement and caregiver services. The center will even have an event space for families to attend movie nights or other activities together.
On Wednesday, March 12, the PGA TOUR Wives Association, Furyk Foundation and EverBank partnered to bring children and families from Community PedsCare to the tournament for an event called “These Kids Can Play.”
“We buy tickets for them to come out, and they get the full, wonderful VIP experience,” said Tuttle. “They come in and have games and different things and then they can enjoy the tournament for the rest of the day. It’s such a special event, and the families love it. … THE PLAYERS does such a phenomenal job of making sure the families have everything they need. Tabitha (Furyk) does an amazing job with all the different games and the different activities that we have going on.”
Another area where the nonprofit demonstrates its importance is when a veteran needs hospice care.
“We provide specialized veteran services so that veterans can die with dignity,” said Tuttle.
Because Community Hospice & Palliative Care does not turn anyone away, regardless of their ability to pay or the status of their insurance, the foundation’s work is critical.
“We make sure that through our charity care services nobody gets turned away,” said Tuttle. “We’re able to raise funds to make sure hospice care is provided for everyone, no matter what.”
There are several ways someone can volunteer or donate to the foundation. A good place to learn more is the foundation’s website, thefoundationcares.org. Anyone with questions can call 904-886-3883.
Tuttle praised THE PLAYERS for its ongoing support.
“We are beyond blessed to have that partnership and that relationship with them,” she said. “They are really good to our families and our patients.”
