Social Work Breakfast held in Moosic

Social Workers from Hospice of the Sacred Heart and many healthcare facilities gathered at the hospice office in Moosic on March 21 for the annual Social Work Breakfast. The theme of “Increasing Awareness and Sensitivity about Cultural Diversity and Inclusion” was highlighted by a panel discussion. The mission of Hospice of the Sacred Heart is to provide comfort, care, hope and choice to patients and their families, while guiding them through the end of life journey.

Shown from left are: Sister Ruth Neely, MSN, CRNP, The Wright Center for Community Health, Ryan White HIV Clinic; Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz, Spiritual Leader, Temple Hesed; Diane Baldi, CEO, Hospice of the Sacred Heart; Martin Russo, Advocate for the transgender community, and Jumee Barooah, M.D., FACP, Designated Institutional Official, The Wright Center for Community Health

$7,000 donation to benefit Kids Kloset

Shown at a presentation of a $7,000 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation for Kids Kloset, a special project of Hospice of the Sacred Heart, are, from left: Frank Caputo, Grants & Communications Coordinator, Linda Menichetti, COO, Hospice of the Sacred Heart; Sara Valvonis, Executive Assistant, Hospice of the Sacred Heart, and Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of Scranton Area Foundation.

Hospice of the Sacred Heart recently received a $7,000 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to support a pediatric patient initiative called the Kids’ Kloset. The grant is part of the Scranton Area Community Foundation Community Needs Grant Fund. 

The Kids’ Kloset is open to Hospice of the Sacred Heart pediatric patients and their siblings. Electronics, arts and crafts, stuffed animals, games and various toys are made available at no charge. The hospice also makes every effort to fulfill special requests for items not stored in the Kids’ Kloset.

“Infants, children and adolescents facing a life-limiting illness deserve a gift now and then to bring them joy. We are grateful to the Scranton Area Community Foundation for their financial support to help make this program flourish,” said Diane Baldi, CEO, Hospice of the Sacred Heart.

The Kids’ Kloset is located at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart office on E.D. Preate Drive in Moosic. We are proud to offer exemplary pediatric hospice care in conjunction with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). 

The mission of Hospice of the Sacred Heart is to provide comfort, care, hope and choice to patients and their families, while guiding them through the end of life journey. 

Author Mitch Albom to visit Scranton this month

Hospice of the Sacred Heart is pleased to announce that Mitch Albom, author, philanthropist, columnist and sports reporter, will speak in Scranton as part of the year-long 20th Anniversary celebration of Hospice of the Sacred Heart. Albom will speak at the Theater at North, Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m.. A book signing will follow in the Theater at North Gallery.   

Author of Tuesdays with Morrie, Albom’s books have sold over 39 million copies and have been translated into over 45 languages. While nationally recognized for his sports writing, Albom is perhaps best known for the themes of hope and kindness that weave through his books, plays and films. In his talks and presentations, he brings the same inspiring message of community building, giving and purpose. 

His breakthrough book, Tuesdays with Morrie, became an international phenomenon with over 14 million copies sold. Now in its 20th year, Tuesdays remains one of the top selling memoirs of all time and was adapted into an Emmy Award-winning TV movie produced by Oprah Winfrey, starring Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria.

Albom has founded 10 charities, including nine in the Detroit area, such as S.A.Y. Detroit, which operates a family health clinic; A Time to Help, a volunteer organization; and A Hole in the Roof Foundation, which repairs faith-based homeless shelters. He also directs the Have Faith Haiti Mission in Port Au Prince, which helps impoverished children and orphans, as well as the Chika Fund, which provides life-saving medical costs and health care.

A columnist for The Detroit Free Press since 1985 and a panelist on The Sports Reporters podcast, Albom has been named the #1 Sports Columnist in the Nation by the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) 13 times. In June, 2010, he received the APSE Red Smith Award for lifetime achievement, the biggest prize in sports journalism, and in June 2013, he was inducted into the Sportswriters Hall of Fame.

He is the author of eight bestselling books, with five debuting at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller List, including The First Phone Call from Heaven; Have A Little Faith; The Five People You Meet in Heaven and its sequel, The Next Person You Meet in Heaven. Albom is currently developing an hour-long drama series based on the novels for FOX.

His bestseller, Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and Making of a Family, is the true story of Chika, a young Haitian orphan whose short life would forever change Albom’s heart. Albom’s latest book, The Stranger in the Lifeboat, will be available for sale immediately following the April 20th event and Mr. Albom will gladly sign them.  

Albom hosts two radio shows on WJR-AM and has appeared on The Today Show, Oprah, and CBS Sunday Morning. His articles have been featured in The New York Times, GQ and Sports Illustrated.  

“We invited Mitch to speak to a large group of Hospice of the Sacred Heart employees, volunteers and community members in 2005. We’re delighted to bring him back and look forward to his fresh and inspiring presentation,” said Diane Baldi, CEO, Hospice of the Sacred Heart.   

Tickets for “An Evening with Mitch Albom” are $55 and are available by visiting the Hospice of the Sacred Heart website (HospiceSacredHeart.org) or at the Theater at North box office. Box office hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday 3 to 6 p,n, and the evening of the show starting at 5 p,n,

 “An Evening with Mitch Albom” is sponsored by PNC Bank. Media partners are WBRE and WYOU-TV and Lamar Advertising. Additional support is provided by Senior Healthcare Solutions, Toyota of Scranton, The Advocacy Alliance and Friendship House.