Local restaurants among those honored by Hospice of the Western Reserve

Several local restaurants and businesses were honored by Hospice of the Western Reserve for their participation in Meals to Remember, a program which donates and serves gourmet dinners to patients and families at David Simpson Hospice House once each month. The restaurants prepare special recipes from their menus as well as donating the time and talent of their culinary staff. Pictured (left to right) are: Bill Finn, CEO, Hospice of the Western Reserve; Beth Davis-Noragon of Grovewood Tavern; Michelle DeJoy of John Palmer’s Bistro 44; Greg Jurcisin of Beach Club Bistro & Grille; Bridget Assing Marok of Scoperta Importing Co., Inc., and Mary Ann Kocurko, Board Chair, Hospice of the Western Reserve.

A capacity crowd of more than 600 volunteers, donors, staff members and community supporters convened at Windows on the River recently to celebrate Hospice of the Western Reserve’s role in the region and to preview the agency’s upcoming  events. These include the soon-to-be open Ames Family Hospice House, a new residential hospice care facility slated to open in Westlake July 1, and Walk to Remember, a signature special event which will take place at Cleveland MetroParks Zoo on Sept. 9 to celebrate the dignity of life, honor the memory of loved ones, and support Hospice of the Western Reserve’s community services and programs in Northern Ohio.

Giving the keynote address was Monina Wagner, Community Manager at Marcus Thomas,  who shared her personal experiences and observations as a caregiver for her mother, a former patient and resident of David Simpson Hospice House. Attendees enjoyed a tour of the Greater Cleveland Aquarium following the meeting.

Several local individuals and organizations were honored with the non-profit agency’s Chair’s Award for their exemplary partnerships and support including several Collinwood-area restaurants. Chair’s recipients are:

• FirstMerit Bank - In recognition of its generous commitment to Hospice of the Western Reserve’s inaugural event, Walk to Remember. The 5K walk will be held Sunday, Sept. 9, at Cleveland MetroParks Zoo, and will include breakfast and complimentary admission to the Zoo and Rainforest for the day. 
• Jennings Center for Older Adults (Accepted by Martha Cutik, President and CEO) - In recognition of the center’s partnership, vision and compassion for quality end-of-life care.
• The News-Herald (Accepted by Tricia Ambrose, Executive Editor)  - For exceptional journalism and reporting to help educate and inform readers and tell the Hospice of the Western Reserve story.
• Meal to Remember Restaurants – Presented to the following restaurants and businesses for their generous contributions to our Meals to Remember program.  The program brings a different Cleveland gourmet chef to David Simpson Hospice House each month to prepare and serve gourmet meals to residents, their families and caregivers.

Meal to Remember Chair’s Award recipients are John Palmer’s Bistro 44, Grovewood Tavern, Beach Club Bistro and Grille, Bistro 185, Lola, Washington Place Bistro and Inn, Hodge’s, Crop Bar and Bistro, Fahrenheit, Pura Vida by Brandt Evans, fire food & drink, The Greenhouse Tavern and Noodlecat, Michaelangelo’s Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar, Lake Shore Coffee House (supplies gourmet coffee for all the meals) and Scoperta Importing Co., Inc. (provides all of the fine wine   for our dinners). 

About Hospice of the Western Reserve

Hospice of the Western Reserve is a community-based, non-profit agency providing comfort and emotional support to patients and their families.The agency cares for people in a variety of settings, including at David Simpson Hospice House overlooking Lake Erie, in patients’ homes, in hospitals and long-term care facilities, and at Ames Family Hospice House http://www.hospicewr.org/campaign which will be opening this summer in Westlake. For more information, visit hospicewr.org or call 800.707.8922.Peg Milbourn, Sarah Robertson and Clark Harvey – Board members who served as co-chairs of Hospice of the Western Reserve’s Comprehensive Campaign. Their leadership was instrumental in funding Ames Family Hospice House.

Laurie Henrichsen is the Media Relations and Events Cooordinator at the Hospice of the Western Reserve.