Pictured from left to right, Gary Mitchell, representing the estate of Vervil Lovene Mitchell; Nell Dunlap, chair of Hospice of Cullman County Inc. Board; Shelly Ligon, Cullman Regional Hospice & Home Care director; and William Peinhardt, MD, medical director Cullman Regional Hospice & Home Care
CULLMAN – Hospice of Cullman County Inc., the fundraising arm of Cullman Regional’s Hospice, recently established the Mitchell Investment Fund. The fund was created in order to provide care for indigent patients who need hospice care in Cullman County thanks to a planned gift of from the estate of Vervil Lovene Mitchell of Hanceville. The earnings from the fund will support end-of-life care for patients who do not have insurance coverage for hospice care and do not have the financial means to support the cost of care.
“We are humbled and appreciative of the gift to Hospice of Cullman County Inc.,” said Nell Dunlap, Hospice Inc. Board chair. “As Cullman County’s only nonprofit hospice, this donation will impact lives in Cullman County for many years through the creation of this investment fund.”
Routine hospice care costs on average $5,000 per month, per patient. Last year, Hospice Inc. provided more than $60,000 in assistance to more than 25 patients. This not only provides care for the patient but also assists families with everyday living expenses such as utility bills, prescriptions not covered under their diagnosis, food, shelter, gasoline, clothes and basic life necessities while their loved one is receiving care.
Mitchell passed away in June of 2016 at the age of 93. She was born in Cullman in 1923 to W.J. Mitchell and Mattie Rice Mitchell. She was a retired professor at the University of Florida at Gainsville and authored a number of articles and books dealing with estate planning, insurance and personal finances. She was also a talented wood carver.
“We are proud to provide the same loving, quality care to both insured and uninsured patients,” Shelly Ligon, director of Cullman Regional’s Hospice & Home Care. “We are extremely grateful to Ms. Mitchell for supporting the mission to provide excellent end-of-life care for all residents, and grateful to the Hospice Inc. Board for supporting this through their various fundraising efforts annually.”
Hospice of Cullman County Inc. has provided funding for approximately 10 percent of the Hospice patients served over the past 30 years. This is only possible thanks to various fundraising efforts including the MEGA CASH Draw Down, held each year in July; $5 Jewelry Sale Fundraisers hosted at Cullman Regional throughout the year; community donations from groups including The Share Club of Cullman, Merchants Bank Charity Invitational as well as individual donations and contributions. Hospice of Cullman County, Inc. is a 501(c)3, nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible as allowable by IRS rules and regulations.
For more information on Hospice of Cullman County Inc. or services available through Cullman Regional Hospice and Cullman Regional, visit online at CullmanRegional.com. Donations to Hospice of Cullman County Inc. can be mailed to PO Box 1108, Cullman, AL 35056-1108 or you may drop them by the Hospice office, Cullman Regional Professional Office Building 1, second floor, Suite 230.
