By Bill Wertman, CEO, Big Bend Hospice
At Big Bend Hospice, we have spent more than four decades helping neighbors across the Big Bend region live their final days with comfort and meaning. That calling, as the only locally owned and operated nonprofit hospice in this area, has taken us into homes, hospital rooms, and the hearts of families from Perry to Chattahoochee.
But behind every story of care, there is another story. A story of support. The kind of quiet, determined support that allows us to say yes to patients and families, no matter their financial situation. That support comes from the Big Bend Hospice Foundation.
Last week, 160 golfers gathered for the 25th Annual Dr. Glenn Bass Golf Tournament. What started a quarter-century ago as a small community event has grown into a vital lifeline for our work. This year, the tournament raised a record-breaking $160,000—funds that directly support the programs and services that define Big Bend Hospice.
This success did not happen by chance. It happened because people believe in our mission. It happened because of the tireless work of Dena Strickland and her team at the Foundation. It happened because this community continues to show up.
As the only locally owned, nonprofit hospice organization in the Big Bend, we are free to prioritize compassion over margins. Our Board of Directors is made up of community members who understand the local landscape, not only in terms of geography, but in spirit. Our leadership team lives here, serves here, and has often been cared for by Big Bend Hospice themselves. When you call us, you’re speaking with someone who understands. That’s not a business model. That’s a promise kept close to home.
The money raised at the Dr. Glenn Bass Golf Tournament does more than cover costs. It allows us to expand services where they are most needed. It allows us to offer music therapy, youth bereavement programs, spiritual counseling, and caregiver support. It allows us to bring Valor Ceremonies to veterans and grief counseling to children who have lost a parent. These are not add-ons. They are essentials, delivered with the tenderness and time that only a nonprofit can provide.
We often say that hospice is more than the final few days. It is about how we live right up to the final breath. Still, we know there is a lingering stigma around the word “hospice.” Some hear it and think it means giving up. But what we have seen, day after day, is that hospice is about holding on to what matters most. Comfort. Clarity. Connection.
That kind of care takes people, and it takes resources. The Big Bend Hospice Foundation helps provide both. They are not just part of our team. They are part of every patient’s story.
So, to everyone who sponsored, played, volunteered, or gave at this year’s tournament, thank you. Your support keeps us going. It keeps us grounded. And most of all, it keeps us local.
We are not just a provider. We are the only true local hospice of the Big Bend. And we are proud to serve.