State of the Heart Hospice Schedules Annual Golf Outing June 1 at Mercer County Elks

Pictured are members of the golf committee. Front row, left to right, Mike Hohler, Mindy Stebbins, Pam Bowman, Pauline Faller, Laurie Brumbaugh, Ryan Gathard. Second row, left to right, Larry Kinneer, Ted Bauer, Tracy Haines, Jim Stamcoff, Jay Hogenkamp and Brad Hulls.

State of the Heart Hospice will hold the agency’s annual golf outing, Friday, June 1 at the Mercer County Elks golf course. This year marks the 17th annual golf outing, which is the major fund raiser for State of the Heart. The non-profit agency with offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland, cares for patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life-limiting illness.

“The golf outing has become an important part of our agency’s tradition and provides funds to help with our services and patient care support,” stated Ryan Gathard, Fund Development Director for State of the Heart Hospice. “Each year, we experience great community support and this year is no different. The response to the outing has been enthusiastic. We’re anticipating this outing to be one of the best we’ve had.”

Called “Get Tee’d Up Fore State of the Heart,” the outing will begin at noon with lunch followed by a shotgun start at one o’clock. The golf outing is sponsored by Midmark Corporation. This year, a Golf Outing Committee was formed to help in planning the event. Members of the Golf Committee are: Jim Stamcoff, Tracy Haines, Ted Bauer, Pam Bowman, Ryan Gathard, Mindy Stebbins, Pauline Faller, Larry Kinneer, Jay Hogenkamp, Laurie Brumbaugh, Brad Hulls and Mike Hohler.

“As a non-profit agency, we rely on our golf outing each year to help fund our special programs,” Gathard explained. “These include our grief support outreach programs which are free. We have Camp BEARable for grieving youth, music therapy and grief support groups for our patients and their families. In addition, funds are used to help those who need financial assistance with their care. No one is ever denied hospice care based on the inability to pay,” Gathard explained. The agency has served local communities for more than 30 years.

Gathard pointed out that there are sponsorship opportunities available; however the foursomes have already sold out. Go to the agency website for a registration form – www.stateoftheheartcare.org.

For more information about the outing, call Gathard at 548-2999 or email him at rgathard@stateoftheheartcare.org.