PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Aroostook Hospice Foundation is honored to announce the dedication of its first named patient suite at the Aroostook House of Comfort, made possible through a generous commitment from the Willey Family Foundation. This marks a major milestone in the Foundation’s recently revitalized Naming Opportunities Campaign, launched to sustain and strengthen its mission while offering a meaningful way for donors to create lasting legacies.
With a pledge of $15,000 annually, the Willey Family Foundation will fulfill and exceed the $50,000 naming level for a patient suite. This dedication is in loving memory of Philip and Vivian Willey. In addition to the suite, the family is also naming a garden area outside the suite window, providing a serene space for reflection and comfort. Through donor-advised funding managed by the Maine Community Foundation, the Willey Family Foundation has contributed more than $47,000 to the Aroostook Hospice Foundation to date. Much of this support has been directed to Charity Care, a fund established by the Foundation in 2022 to ensure that eligible patients can access high quality, compassionate hospice care regardless of their financial circumstances.
“Friends and family of the Willey Family Fund are so very pleased to support all of the work of the Aroostook House of Comfort, but we find the special fund to assist families who need a bit of financial support to extend the stay of clients of particular significance. I doubt many families from Central Aroostook lack personal knowledge of a member of their own family or a family friend that has not benefited from the care and compassion of the House of Comfort. This ‘compassion fund’ builds a bridge from exhausted resources to a few more days of support and care for a loved one. It is a cause that we hope to support for years to come, and we urge other groups to take up this important work. Naming a suite and garden window in memory of our benefactors, Philip and Vivian Willey, is a concrete expression of their generous life,” said Ronald Willey, trustee, Willey Family Foundation.
Abbey Clair, executive director of the Aroostook Hospice Foundation, had the privilege of providing a tour to Ronald Willey, Lou Willey and their grandson Malachai Willey.
“We are deeply grateful to the Willey Family Foundation for their heartfelt generosity and continued support,” said Clair. “It was a true privilege to welcome them to the Aroostook House of Comfort, share the story of their impact, and unveil the plaque commemorating the dedication of this special suite and garden in memory of Philip and Vivian Willey.”
The Aroostook Hospice Foundation launched the Naming Opportunities Campaign to offer individuals, families and organizations the chance to dedicate meaningful spaces within the hospice home. These legacy gifts not only honor loved ones but also help ensure the long term sustainability of one of only four inpatient hospice facilities in Maine, which has served more than 1,000 individuals since opening in 2018 in partnership with Northern Light Home Care & Hospice.
For more information about naming opportunities or to learn how you can support the mission of the Aroostook Hospice Foundation, please contact Clair at abbey@aroostookhouseofcomfort.org.
The Aroostook House of Comfort, situated centrally in Aroostook County and recognized as the sole inpatient hospice facility north of Augusta, is owned by the Aroostook Hospice Foundation. Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, the longest serving Medicare-certified hospice agency in Aroostook County, oversees the hands-on hospice care and staffing. Together, we offer compassionate care, comfort, dignity, and support to individuals and their caregivers on their journey through hospice. For more information, please visit https://aroostookhouseofcomfort.org/.
