Hospice of the Chesapeake: Caring for Life
Philanthropy, purposeful, non-profit, and special needs – these are all likely terms you have heard associated with Purple Cherry Architects for years. That is because the work we do is not limited to just the residential work that you may see at Purple Cherry. However, it is those projects that allow us to do the purposeful and non-profit work that really touches your soul.
For example, in 2013, Purple Cherry was blessed to be awarded the job of designing a 14-bed inpatient care center at the new Hospice of the Chesapeake Campus in Pasadena.
The building is designed in a “T” shape, allowing each room to face beautiful gardens designed by Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, full of water features, meandering paths and benches for families to make use of while spending the last days with a loved family member. Once inside, patients and their families are treated to rooms that truly “felt like home”, due to thoughtful interior design by TM Design & Associates. Also inside the new structure is a series of community spaces – a kids’ room, a family room and a reflection room. Many visitors’ favorite space, the reflection room was designed to provide families with some respite or a more intimate place to have a discussion with the chaplain.
One of the key features of the reflection room is the artwork. A series of four panes of glass painted by Sally Comport of Art at Large hang in front of the windows, filtering the light into the room and representing the seasons – seasons of the year, seasons of life, seasons of whatever a visitor may interpret them to be.
While we could go into great detail regarding the efforts and team members that went into the design and construction of this facility, one thing is certain – it would not have been possible without the giving heart of all who donated to the Hospice’s Caring for Life Campaign, whether monetarily or via services or in-kind donations.
On that note, the Hospice Annual Gala, its largest fundraising event of the year, was recently rescheduled to July 18th, 2020 due to the COVID 19 outbreak. Given the highly infectious nature of the virus, and the population the Hospice serves, this was the right call.
The good news? This means that there is still plenty of time to donate or even purchase a table, like Purple Cherry Architects did.
If you’ve never attended the Gala, rest assured it is a night to remember. After being greeted by the friendly faces of Hospice and its volunteers, guests are guided towards a step and repeat banner for a brief photo session, after which they join a cocktail hour to mingle with friends and browse the silent auction items laid throughout the room.
Previous silent auction items have included a signed jersey from a local professional sports team, a weekend getaway to St. Michaels, or a game night experience at Mission Escape Rooms .
During the seated dinner portion of the evening, guests hear stories about Hospice and its mission, and listen to heartfelt stories from individuals who have been positively and directly affected by Hospice of the Chesapeake. After dinner, an exciting live auction is held and the dance floor is opened – once of the PCA team’s favorite activities.
If you would like to donate or be a part of this year’s festivities, visit the Hospice of the Chesapeake Gala website to learn more. We hope to see you on the dance floor!
Written by Ashley Marshall, project manager at PCA