Agrace News

As reported by Kathryn Larson of WKOW

MADISON (WKOW) — A 102-year-old Verona great-grandfather is celebrating after becoming king of the tennis court, one last time.  Warren H. Webster, born in 1915, is currently in hospice care, but it’s not slowing him down.

When Webster’s Agrace HospiceCares caretakers learned of his desire to play one last tennis match, the organization made his dream come true.

“102 and hitting a tennis ball?”  Lisa Bender, an LPN, said about the miraculous day.  “I deal with patients of all health conditions and none are quite like Warren.

It’s why she and her team worked hard to make the day a reality.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. – Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care is inviting Rockford residents to attend a ribbon cutting and open house at Agrace’s new office in Rockford. The event will be held on Monday, June 19, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 7290 Argus Drive in Rockford. Agrace leaders will be on hand to share information about the hospice and grief support services Agrace provides to the stateline area.

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As reported by Henry Sanders in Madison365

Over the last two years, we have published lists of the most influential African Americans and Latinos in Wisconsin. I intended these lists to highlight the beauty of the diversity in our community. I wanted kids here in Wisconsin to see role models of people who are succeeding, to know that it’s possible for people of color to achieve great things here, and to highlight people of color doing great work in a variety of fields and pursuits.

That’s exactly what our previous lists accomplished, and what we hope to continue with this week’s list — the second annual list of the state’s most powerful Latinos.

This list couldn’t possibly include every Latino doing good work in the community. It does, however, introduce you to some people you’ve never heard of who are doing great things in other parts of the state or simply working behind the scenes, doing the work without the accolades.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. – Agrace has hired Loves Park resident Tami Kellerman as development manager, serving as a liaison to Agrace’s Rock County and northern Illinois communities. As development manager, Kellerman will represent the Agrace Foundation and lead community outreach efforts in Rock County and northern Illinois.

Agrace is Wisconsin’s largest nonprofit palliative care and hospice agency, providing end-of-life care and related services to people in southern Wisconsin communities for nearly 40 years. In late 2016, Agrace opened an office at 7290 Argus Drive in Rockford, and began serving patients and families in four counties in northern Illinois.

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Pulvermacher Will Lead Local Grief Session, Spouse-Loss Support Group

Click here to listen to a broadcast of Colleen Pulvermacher on WRCO’s Morning Show.

RICHLAND CENTER, Wis. – Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care has hired Richland Center resident Colleen Pulvermacher, MS, Certified Grief Support Specialist, to supplement Agrace’s community grief support programs in Richland and Sauk counties.

Pulvermacher will serve as a community grief specialist for Agrace in addition to continuing her current position as an agent/associate professor for University of Wisconsin-Extension in Viroqua. Agrace is Wisconsin’s largest nonprofit palliative care and hospice agency. It has provided end-of-life care and related services to people in southern Wisconsin communities for nearly 40 years.

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By Neil Heinen, WISC TV-3/Channel3000.com

I got a really nice email recently from the director of employee and volunteer engagement at Agrace Hospice and Palliative Care wanting to “express sincere and heartfelt thanks” for the local volunteers who contribute so much to Agrace’s mission.

It was a warm and genuine appreciation and concluded “Agrace simply could not do what (it does) without the support of…volunteers.”

How many of our community’s most important organizations, institutions and nonprofit organizations would say the same thing? Probably all of them.

United Way of Dane County famously credits volunteers for providing the foundation of United Way’s work, and is about to launch another volunteer coordination component of that work.

This week is National Volunteer Week and it’s a great opportunity for all of us to look into our lives and see the places we are touched by the work of volunteers, and to take some satisfaction in our own volunteering. We certainly want to add our thanks for the volunteers among us.

As reported by Amber Noggle of WKOW

OREGON (WKOW) — Joanne Gladden is a remarkable volunteer for Agrace, offering support and friendship to many in their final stages of life.

She’s been volunteering for six years, helping patients like 90-year-old Ruth Ann Smith, who’s suffering from heart failure.

“I’m in a lot of pain and I’ve been awfully, awfully sick. Joanne knows that,” says Ruth Ann. “I feel that God sent her to me. She is special.”

It’s a gift Joanne wanted to give, because she was once a patient herself, battling breast cancer.

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As reported by Barry Adams in the Wisconsin State Journal
Photo credit: Barry Adams, Wisconsin State Journal

A truckload of donated vinyl record albums has turned into drawers of cash for a Madison area nonprofit.

Agrace Hospice reported Friday that two of its Madison thrift stores have combined to sell more than $12,000 worth of record albums and the remaining stock of about 6,000 albums are now on sale at 10 for $1.

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As reported by Barry Adams in the Wisconsin State Journal
Photo credit: John Hart, Wisconsin State Journal

Jerry Roh spent years building a record collection of more than 21,000 vinyl albums. Its new owner hopes to reduce it to next to nothing in a few days.

At 10 a.m. Friday, Madison’s Agrace Thrift Stores will begin selling Roh’s donated collection in a Black Friday-like event featuring some of the biggest names — and several not-so-notable artists — in music in rock, country, religious, polka, children’s, classical and blues music.

“A lot of people are going to be interested in this,” said Dave Zero, owner of MadCity Music Exchange, 600 Williamson St. “It’ll be interesting to see what’s in there. For Agrace, I’m sure it’s going to be fantastic. People are going to be looking for gems, and I’m sure there will be plenty in there.”

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