GULFSIDE HOSPICE & PASCO PALLIATIVE CARE HOLDS FOUNDER’S DAY CELEBRATION ON JULY 8

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (July 15, 2014) – More than 150 people attended Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care’s first Founder’s Day celebration, which highlighted the first 25 years of the company.

      The Founder’s Day event took place on July 8 at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club in New Port Richey.  Originally founded on July 8, 1988 and then known as Central Gulfside Hospice, Gulfside accepted its first hospice patient on July 5, 1989. Through the years, the company now known as Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care has helped countless families facing both chronic and terminal illness, said Gulfside President and CEO Linda Ward.

“This special day gave us a chance for the community to put a face on Gulfside’s special care,” said Ward. “Today is about the history and how our journey began. It is about people with dedication and compassion. It’s about stories that inspire all of us, and it’s about continuing the journey into the future.”

Originally serving families primarily in west Pasco County, Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care now has 14 locations throughout Pasco County to serve Pasco County residents.

“Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care is about the people in our community who, when faced with difficult times, can depend on us to provide compassion, service and relief,” said Ward.  “Whether it is hospice care in a person’s home, a palliative consult at a hospital, a spouse or child support group, an alternative therapy with music or animals, or a candlelight memorial service, the goal is the same -  Comfort, Dignity and Care.”

Also speaking at the event was one of Gulfside’s founders Carol Springer, RN. Springer founded the organization with Dr. Jack Bellone and physician assistant Gary Gossman. Springer talked about the early days of the organization, which she led until the mid-1990s, and thanked many people for their involvement with the early days of Gulfside.

In addition to Springer and Ward, Gulfside’s current board chair Dr. Daniel Heinig and Kathy Postiglione, chief operations officer and senior VP of business development spoke. Previous volunteer of the year winner Jeanette Tatro talked about her experience with Gulfside, and director of patient counseling and resources Shelley Schneider shared a recent story of patient care that involved all facets of the organization. Gulfside’s fundraising manager Carla Armstrong also spoke about the importance of legacy donations to the organization.

 Gulfside Hospice, initially licensed in 1989, serves more than 350 patients daily. Gulfside employs over 250 professionals and has more than 550 volunteers, and is the only hospice that serves Pasco County exclusively. Pasco Palliative Care, initially licensed in 2009, serves Pasco County residents facing chronic illness, who are not hospice appropriate or still seeking curative treatment. For more information about GHPPC, call 800-561-4883 or visit www.ghppc.org.