Wolens Foundation recognized for Hospice support
By Palm Beach Business.com
The Wolens Family Foundation recently received a 2010 IMPACT Award from the Donors Forum of South Florida for funding the development of a successful caregiver education program at Hospice by the Sea. The Donors Form sponsors the IMPACT Awards each year to honor those who provide outstanding grants that have made a significant impact in the community.
The Wolens Foundation received its award for donating $115,000 to seed the creation of the Sylvia Wolens Caregiver Education Program to honor the wife of the Foundation’s principal, Jerome Wolens, and to recognize her devoted caregivers.
Jerome Wolens, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, is an active supporter of Hospice by the Sea. In addition to the funding provided by his family foundation, his contributions and personal efforts have leveraged additional support from the community, which continues today.
The Sylvia Wolens Caregiver Program has since expanded to become the Hospice by the Sea’s Aloesea Caregiver Program. It provides education, support and complementary therapies to caregivers throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties.
The program’s comprehensive caregiver resources include printed materials, educational workshops and demonstrations of basic tasks and techniques needed to care for a progressively ill individual at home.
In addition, caregivers can take advantage of a variety of complementary and holistic therapies, such as yoga, healing touch, reiki and reflexology, to help reduce stress and enhance both patient care and self-care. Additionally, Wolen’s support helped Hospice by the Sea to develop “A Lifeline for Caregivers,” an educational DVD for family caregivers. The step-by-step instructional DVD is also available in Spanish.
Wolens and his daughter attended the IMPACT Award presentation at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel, as did members of Hospice by the Sea’s leadership team.
“We are very grateful for Jerry’s friendship and continued generosity, which will enable us to provide comprehensive and much-needed educational resources and support to the caregivers in our community for many years to come,” Hospice CEO Paula J. Alderson said.
