Hospice of Wake County Helps Community Deal with Grief through 25 Years of Counseling

Aug. 25, 2010 - PRLog -- Raleigh, N.C. (August 25, 2010) – Even after a long illness, few people are completely prepared for the tidal wave of emotions experienced after the death of a loved one. Grief affects each person differently and there is no time limit on getting past these torrents of emotion. For 25 years, Hospice of Wake County has helped members of the community understand and deal with their grief through bereavement counseling offered in a supportive and compassionate environment.

Whether the loss happened yesterday or three years ago, Hospice of Wake County’s Horizons Grief Center offers individual counseling, support groups, workshops, memorial services and educational programs to adults, teens and children who have experienced the loss of a family member or friend. These services are open to the entire community free of charge, regardless if the loved one was a Hospice patient or not.

“Grief is a natural and healthy reaction to death, but it does take some longer than others to accept what they feel,” said Mari Pitcher, Hospice of Wake County Director. “We hear so many conversations start with ‘What is wrong with me?’ The greatest gift we can give is to let individuals know that there is absolutely nothing wrong with them and provide a safe environment where they can express their grief.”

To better support the community’s growing and urgent demand for a wide-range of services, Hospice of Wake County opened the region’s first freestanding Hospice facility off Trinity Road in the fall of 2009.  Included in the new campus is the Kit Boney Grief Center. The building houses the Horizons Grief Center’s counseling offices, support group meeting rooms, a children’s play therapy room, an art therapy room and libraries for children and adults.

Each year, the experienced, master’s level bereavement counselors at Hospice average 1,000 children and adults in individual and small group settings. Horizon’s Grief Center also holds professional workshops and conferences throughout the year for corporations, schools, mental health practitioners and health care professionals.

The Big Bad Ball, an annual black tie gala presented by The Capital City Club’s Young Executives, raises money each year to help Hospice of Wake County fund their community programs. This year’s event, Rhythm and Romance, will be held October 2nd from 7p.m. – 1a.m. at the Capital City Club. Tickets for the Big Bad Ball are $125 each. All guests can enjoy two bands: The Moonlighters Orchestra and tHE.DESIGN; five open bars; scrumptious food selections including hors d’oeuvres, pasta and carving stations, desserts and a late night breakfast. Attendees also get a chance to participate in a silent auction, a Fink’s Jewelers door prize and a raffle for a $10,000 cash prize.  Proceeds from the Big Bad Ball support the Hospice of Wake County Indigent Patient Fund and the Horizons Grief Center.

To purchase tickets or learn more about the Big Bad Ball, please visit www.bigbadball.com or call Hospice of Wake County at 919-828-0890.

About Hospice of Wake County
Your community hospice since 1979, Hospice of Wake County provides physical, emotional and spiritual care to those living with advanced illness, their caregivers and those who have lost a loved one regardless of age, race, religion or financial circumstances. Service areas include Wake, Johnston, Franklin, Durham and Harnett counties. Guided by community-based boards of directors and trustees and supported by a dedicated professional staff, the goal of Hospice of Wake County is to provide compassionate hospice care that allows patients to enjoy every moment of their lives to the fullest. For more information call 919-828-0890 or visit http://www.hospiceofwake.org

About Media Partners, Inc. (MPI)
Founded in 2000, Media Partners, Inc. is a media marketing agency offering mindful strategies, results-based creative and smart media solutions. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, MPI is a media company that understands marketing, not a marketing company that tries to understand media. To learn more about MPI and mindfulmediamarketing, visit www.mediapartners-inc.com or call (919) 846-0247.

# # #

Presented by The Capital City Club’s Young Executives, the Big Bad Ball will be held October 2nd from 7p.m. – 1a.m. at the Capital City Club. Proceeds support the Hospice of Wake County Indigent Patient Fund and the Horizons Grief Center.