Scam Alert: Hospice Donation Requests

LENOIR, NC (April 13, 2018)…Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care is warning the community about an organization named Hospice Support Fund, formerly Hospice Fund of America, who has been soliciting donations from local residents by phone and mail.

“We recently learned that local residents have again been approached for donations and feel it is our responsibility to let our community know that Caldwell Hospice has no affiliation with the Hospice Support Fund,” said Caldwell Hospice CEO Cathy Swanson. “Caldwell Hospice wants to ensure the community that we never sell or share our patients, families or donor’s names with anyone.”

According to the legal disclosure buried discreetly on their website, contributions to the Hospice Support Fund are used as follows: “69.39 percent to fundraising, 10.22 percent on administration, 5.93 percent on program services, and 14.46 percent on public education in conjunction with fundraising appeals”. Hospice Support Fund is associated with New Hope Foundation, which has been sued by the Hospice Foundation of America. New Hope reached a settlement agreement with the Hospice Foundation of America in March 2014, agreeing to stop the use of the name Hospice Fund of America and the abbreviation HFA. Since that time, they have solicited donations under the name Hospice Support Fund.

“We are absolutely certain,” continued Swanson, “that not one penny of these donations will be given to Caldwell Hospice or spent on actually caring for hospice patients in Caldwell or surrounding counties.”

“When you donate to Caldwell Hospice, 100% of your donations stay local and allows us to provide services, supplies, education, and patient care to our community,” says Swanson. Donations to Caldwell Hospice may be sent to 902 Kirkwood St., NW, Lenoir, NC, or by phone to 828.754.0101.

Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care is a not-for-profit organization, licensed by the State of North Carolina, certified by Medicare, and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care.

For more information about Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care call 828.754.0101, visit www.caldwellhospice.org, or follow on facebook.