MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp. employees are celebrating a landmark in the employee phase of the "Our House is Your House" capital campaign for the Baptist Trinity Hospice House and Kemmons Wilson Family Center for Good Grief as they have surpassed the million dollar mark.

The employee campaign began in November of 2008, with 60 employee volunteers across the system reaching out to their colleagues to make donations.

"Employees tell us they see the need for the hospice house and the grief center every day, and they are proud Baptist is the organization meeting this community need," said Nancy Averwater, administrator for Baptist Trinity Home Care & Hospice and co-chairperson of the employee phase of the Our House is Your House campaign.

Campaign volunteers are inviting their colleagues to give an "Hour of Power," an hour of pay per pay period over three to five years. Equal sacrifice rather than equal giving is the focus, said Averwater. Volunteers are personally reaching out to their colleagues to educate them about the need for the hospice house and invite them to participate by making a gift. Participating employee donors even wear a special pin featuring a rendering of the hospice house on it to encourage their fellow colleagues, patients and their families to inquire about what the hospice house is.

In addition to the Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation, other lead gifts have been made by Marcia and George Bryan, The Assisi Foundation and Plough Foundation. Significant gifts have also been pledged by Ann and Steve Reynolds, Huddy and Bayard Boyle, Crawford Investment Counsel, Andrea and Doug Edwards, Nada and Scott Fountain, Helen Hardin, Virginia and Jim McGehee, Snow and Henry Morgan, Ann and Joe Weller, The West Clinic and one anonymous donor.

The hospice house will be developed on approximately five acres of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville, and is designed to serve terminally ill patients who are unable to be cared for in their own homes. The hospice house also will provide acute care to hospice patients requiring more complex medical treatments and services. A multidisciplinary group, including a team of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, bereavement specialists and volunteers will provide care to patients and their loved ones.

In addition, the Kemmons Wilson Family Center for Good Grief will be built at the same time near the hospice house. The center will offer year-round grief support services and will have an outdoor recreation therapy area, providing a camp-like atmosphere.

Construction on the complex will begin this spring and the grand opening is anticipated for spring 2010. For more information on the Baptist Trinity Hospice House and Kemmons Wilson Family Center for Good Grief, please call 901-767-6767.

SOURCE Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation

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