|
A Heartfelt Message from Our President
Dear Friends of Boquete Health & Hospice,
I hope this letter finds you well. As you know, it is the steadfast support and commitment of our volunteers and donors over the past 17 years that has allowed Boquete Health & Hospice to make a profound difference to scores of individuals in our community. We have brought comfort and dignity to people facing many different health challenges, including patients with life-limiting illnesses. We are truly grateful for your ongoing dedication and generosity.
During this holiday season, I urge you to consider making a gift to Boquete Health & Hospice. Your donation will help us continue to provide essential services and programs to the community. We remain dedicated to our mission of providing exceptional end-of-life care, including multifaceted support to patients and their families, and educating the wider community about health-related matters. We are also always working to expand our services and reach. For this we require the financial backing of compassionate and regular donors.
BHH is supported entirely by donations from members of the community we serve. We receive no subsidies or funding from any government, foundation, or corporate sources.
So it is literally only with the help of loyal donors that we can sustain our services and programs. As the year draws to a close and we set our goals for 2024, we ask you to consider making a gift to BHH today. Please know that every donation, no matter what size, goes directly towards our work and helps us achieve our goals.
There are many ways to donate, as detailed below, and if you are not able to do so at this time, we ask that you pass this appeal on to family, friends, and colleagues who may be in a position to contribute:
If you would like to discuss this further, make a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) donation, or explore other ways to contribute such as setting up a legacy gift via estate planning, please contact me directly on WhatsApp at +507 6644 6351 or at rodgottula@gmail.com.
Thank you once again for your continued commitment to Boquete Health & Hospice. Together we will keep making a meaningful difference by providing relevant and timely health education, and by offering the care, compassion, and support our patients need during their most vulnerable moments.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Rod Gottula, MD
President, Boquete Health & Hospice | | | Ways to Contribute to Boquete Health & Hospice
- Make a donation via our website with your Visa or MasterCard.
- Make a direct deposit or send an electronic transfer to our bank account: Bank name – Banco General, Account name – Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation, Account number – 04-48-96-075844-7, Account type – Savings.
- Donate checks or cash directly (all checks must be made payable to Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation): at one of our monthly Council or general meetings, at one of our blood drives, at a BHH workshop or event, at our blood pressure table in the Tuesday Market (located in the old theater at Tap Out), or when picking up or returning equipment at one of our storage facilities.
- Call Dr. Rod to learn how to make a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) donation or explore other ways to contribute such as setting up a legacy gift via estate planning. Contact him on WhatsApp at +507 6644 6351 or at rodgottula@gmail.com.
| | |
BHH Volunteers,
Be Sure to RSVP
for the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon!
| | | If you haven't already, please RSVP no later than Tuesday, December 5. The link is in the invitation that was sent to you. The lunch is being held Wednesday, December 13, in lieu of the general meeting. If you are a BHH volunteer and didn't receive an invitation, please contact Kat McKay.
Our volunteers are the heart of BHH and we thank you for all you do! | | | IMPORTANT ELECTION NOTICE TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF BOQUETE HEALTH & HOSPICE | | | | Dates for the Election of Officers for BHH
The annual election of Officers and the appointment of the Past President and Patient Care Coordinators will take place January 10, 2024 at the BHH Annual Meeting at the Animales Event Center in Alto Boquete at 10am and via Zoom.
Proposed Slate of Officers
President: Dr. Rod Gottula
Vice President – Operations: Kat McKay
Vice President – Community Engagement: Open
Treasurer: Bill Hinrichsen
Secretary: Lorraine Handler
Past President
John Earle
Patient Care Coordinators
Bev Tyler
Denise Daniels
Liz Baze
Bill and Cheryl Crabbe (co-PCCs, non-voting)
Nominations for the five officer positions will open November 28, 2023 and will close December 28, 2023. Nominations must be emailed to VP Kat McKay at katnukesu@gmail.com by December 28 for inclusion in the slate. Nominations from the floor will also be accepted at the Annual Meeting, which will be held in-person at the Animales Event Center in Alto Boquete on January 10, 2024 at 10am and via Zoom.
Before you make a nomination, please speak with the person you are nominating to make sure they are willing. To be eligible for nomination, the nominee must be a member in good standing for at least one year and have a good understanding of BHH operations. | | | Book Now for January CPR Training Learn to save a life and help a family member, friend, or neighbor in an emergency by attending BHH CPR training. This is a popular class, so sign up early!
This free class will be held January 10 at the Animales Event Center in Alto Boquete and will start at 11:30am following our general meeting. It will last about an hour. During the training, our amazing instructors teach participants hands-on CPR chest compressions (no mouth-to-mouth) and the Heimlich maneuver for airway obstruction.
This is a non-certified course. Preregistration is required and class size is limited to 16, so please register for the January 10 workshop by emailing CPR@boquetehealth.org or clicking the button below. Although this event is free, donations to support our work are gratefully accepted. | | |
October Blood Drive Second Best Ever with 69 Pints Collected!
| | | | The impact of this achievement is immeasurable, as each pint of blood can be used in three different ways. This means that a total of 207 patients will benefit from these life-saving donations. And one of them might be you or someone you know. This accomplishment has brought immense joy to the organizers at Boquete Health & Hospice and the Blood Bank of Hospital Regional Rafael Hernández.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in making this blood drive a success.
First and foremost, we express our deepest gratitude to the blood donors. Demographically, the donors were 70% women and 30% men. They were 64% expatriates and 36% Panamanians. Their selfless act of donating blood humbles us all and will make a significant difference in the lives of those in need.
We also extend our appreciation to the dedicated staff members from the Blood Bank at Hospital Regional Rafael Hernández, as well as the technicians from Hospital Chiriqui and Hospital Mae Lewis. Your expertise and support played a vital role in ensuring the success of the Blood Drive.
A special acknowledgment goes to our corporate sponsors who generously supported the event: Melissa Chong from Mini Super Aldo Dorado, Jamie Clem of JeJay Videos, Chris Young from Big Daddy's, and Amigos de Animales.
We would also like to recognize the invaluable efforts of our BHH volunteers who prepared for the event and worked tirelessly throughout the blood drive. Carmen Restrepo, Janice Norris, Laurie Collier, Bill Hinrichsen, Mary Nieves, Cat Vann, Ginny Woolley, Sofia Valdez, and Kat McKay—you all have made a significant impact through your dedication and support.
We greatly appreciate the sincere contributions of Caesar Sherrard and Susie Brymer, who shared their personal stories of needing blood unexpectedly, and how BHH was able to help. Thanks also goes to Caesar's wife Antonieta for bringing treats for the volunteers and staff.
We extend our gratitude to singer and multi-instrumentalist Scott McConachie and his band mate Denzl Keenan for their musical talent and performance at the event. Their music was highly appreciated by donors, staff, and volunteers alike.
We would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Chris McCall and Deb Hornstra, BHH's dedicated creative promoters, for their hard work in raising awareness and publicizing the Blood Drive and the Matching Fund. Their strategic efforts had a measurable impact upon our success. And muchas gracias to Michael Polacek and Wes Macomber for creating a new set of videos in English and Spanish to use in our blood drive campaigns.
Moreover, we express our heartfelt thanks to the matching fund donors who generously contributed to our cause. Laurie and Kelly Collier, Natalie and Mike Kelly, Price and Susan Peterson, Daniel and Soriana Forbes, Lawrence Bunyard, Linda and Doug Avery, Penny Barrett, Sally Zigmond and Peter Sterling, Caesar and Antonieta Sherrard, Kat McKay, Trish and Brian Christofferson, Brandy Gregory, Karen Schwartz, Paul and Welthy Myers, Steve and Cheri White, Bill Hinrichsen, David Mullis, William Hurley, John and Babbie Earle, Kim and Robin Ward, Esther Leung, Ada Yip, Diana Pynnonen, Carol Kennedy, Rod Gottula, Jane Hampton, William Clendaniel, Jr., Kenneth Clark, Marne Coggan, Debbie Friedenberg, and one anonymous donor—your support has made a significant impact on the lives of the families we serve through our Blood Donor Program.
It was very heartwarming to once again see the greater Boquete community participating together in this vital event that speaks to the humanity of all. Volunteers and donors represented a wide spectrum of the district: local Boqueteños, donors from Volcan, resident expats, many business leaders, the municipal government, farmers, teachers, musicians, and everyday mothers and fathers.
We are proud that our small, diverse district can come together for the wellbeing of our one human family.
Thanks to all of you on behalf of the families served by our Blood Donor Program. Gracias, Boquete! | | |
Raffle Tickets for this Gorgeous Quilt Selling Soon!
With the gift-giving holidays around the corner, we're announcing we'll soon be selling raffle tickets for this full-sized and cozy quilt, artfully made and generously donated to BHH by master quilter Sarah Zink of Zinky's Quilts. The craftsmanship, beauty, and creativity of Sarah's quilts brighten any room. Quilts of this quality retail for hundreds of dollars.
The drawing will be held at the February 14, 2024 general meeting. You need not be present to win. All proceeds from the raffle will go to support BHH's operating expenses.
Raffle tickets can be purchased for $5 each or 3 for $10. You can view the quilt and buy raffle tickets at the December Volunteer Appreciation Lunch, January annual meeting/election, and the February general meeting. Once gas is more freely available, you will also be able to view the quilt and buy raffle tickets at our table at the Tuesday Market at Tap Out (watch our Facebook and Insta pages for details on the dates).
Many thanks to Sarah for her continuing support of BHH with her charming quilted creations! And we KNOW you all want this quilt. So please come out and buy a chance or three for a good cause! | | | Our Sincere Thanks for Anonymous Gift
Recently, BHH was blessed with a generous donation that will greatly assist with programs in 2024. A million thanks to this anonymous donor who made the donation through 501(c)(3).
At this time of the year charities such as Boquete Health & Hospice are working on their plans for the coming year and preparing budgets. This is a time when many people are working with financial advisors to assess the tax situation. Many people can make a donation through 501(c)(3) that will directly reduce their tax obligation. This is a win-win for the donor and recipient.
For anyone planning to contribute to our 501(c)(3) organization or explore other ways to contribute such as setting up a legacy gift via estate planning, please contact BHH President Rod Gottula directly at +507 6644-6351 or at rodgottula@gmail.com. Please click the button below to learn about other ways to give. | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.