Hospice has big plans to celebrate its 25th Anniversary

Posted August 3, 2006

Hospice of Martha's Vineyard is celebrating "Twenty-Five Years of Making a Difference." Founded in 1981, the Martha's Vineyard hospice is a free, community-supported program whose mission is to meet the unique physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of all who are facing advanced illness and loss, and to give them hope, comfort, and compassion.

Following is a list of events planned in the months ahead, according to a press release.

Summer Soiree

This year's annual Summer Soiree, which will be held at Farm Neck in Oak Bluffs on Monday, August 14, will be a gourmet dinner catered by Jaime Hamlin, with beverages donated by Our Market. A swing band will play so celebrants can dance the night away. There will, of course, also be opportunities to support Hospice by buying raffle tickets for a Wampum bracelet from Joan LeLacheur, an outdoor bench from Vineyard Decorators, Fruit Basket from Eden and a container of orchids from Wendy Oliver's Frosty Hollow Orchids, as well as some auction items, including a $4,500 World Discovery Tauck Tour to a destination of the buyer's choice, fall golf package for four at the renowned Woods Hole Golf Club plus dinner and hotel accommodations in Falmouth, an Eisenstadt 3-panel photo donated by the Granary Gallery - and, once again, the opportunity to ride around the Vineyard with the fabulous Harley Riders.

Tickets can be purchased for $125 by calling the Hospice office at 508-693-0189.

All Island Tennis Championship

Once again, this year Mas Kimball and Tom Rabbit of Island Country Club are sponsoring the All Island Tennis Championship on Labor Day Weekend. It will be a weekend of men's, women's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles. To register, call 508-693-6574.

Butterfly Release

Also sponsored by Hospice will be a Butterfly Release on September 23 at Felix Neck at 2 pm. According to American Indian legend, if someone whispers a wish to a butterfly and then releases it, that wish will come true. The butterflies can be purchased in memory or in honor of a loved one for $25 each or 5 for $100. To reserve butterflies and for further information, call Linda Hughes at 508-693-6316.

Spirit of the Vineyard

Hospice is also the sponsor of the annual Spirit of the Vineyard Award, which honors volunteers who have worked long and hard for the Island non-profit community. The criteria for selection include selflessness, the range and depth of service performed, the length of volunteer service and the effect on the quality of life of the individuals who received help and for the Island community as a whole. Past recipients of the honor are Jack Ware, Estelle Surprenant, Ron Rappaport,

Nominations may be submitted to Spirit of the Vineyard, c/o Hospice, PO Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.