Harbor Hospice

08/23/2025

For 20 years, the Leila & Cyrus Po**en Hospice Residence has been where compassion meets comfort. Since opening in 2004, we’ve cared for more than 5,500 patients, providing 24/7 support in a peaceful, home-like setting.

Like any home, the Po**en needs ongoing care to remain a place of comfort. That’s why we’ve created a plan to address upcoming needs—from essential equipment to outdoor spaces—so we can continue providing the highest quality care that West Michigan families need in life’s most tender moments.

The Harbor Hospice Foundation has launched a $1 million campaign to fund these updates, which include a new HVAC system, an accessible bathtub, updated medical equipment, and refreshed spaces for patients and families.

Thanks to a generous matching gift, every dollar you give today will be doubled, making twice the impact.

As a nonprofit hospice, we value your journey and your choice, making every decision with patients and their families in mind.

Support the Po**en Hospice Residence Sustainability Initiative by making a donation today: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E8358&id=63

08/22/2025

The 4th Annual Horses for Harbor Hospice is back—now at the Muskegon County Fairgrounds with more space and exciting new features! Whether you're a rider or simply a horse enthusiast, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy horse obstacle courses, themed riding trails, wagon rides with Clydesdale and Halflinger horses, a silent auction, and the chance to honor a loved one on our Memorial Trail.

Riders can register at https://bit.ly/4iLtgXq — $35 includes a t-shirt and lunch ticket (register by August 31 to receive a shirt).

Want to honor someone special? Purchase a memorial sign at https://bit.ly/4lTmOPN by September 10. Signs may be taken home after the event.

All proceeds benefit grief support services at the Scolnik Healing Center, so come out and support a meaningful cause while enjoying a day filled with horses, healing, and community.

08/22/2025

We’re proud to welcome Joan Nagelkirk, MD, to the Harbor Hospice Board of Directors.

With her clinical expertise and passion for advancing healthcare access and equity, Dr. Nagelkirk brings a vital perspective to our work. We look forward to her guidance as we continue to deliver high-quality, holistic care to patients, families, and caregivers across the Lakeshore.

Welcome, Dr. Nagelkirk!

Meet our Board of Directors and Leadership Team: harborhospicemi.org/about/our-leadership-team

08/21/2025

Please join us in welcoming Jeffrey Johnson, Superintendent of Montague Area Public Schools, to the Harbor Hospice Board of Directors!

Jeffrey’s leadership and dedication to service make him a valuable addition to our mission of delivering care that supports the whole person. His insight will help shape the future of compassionate care in our community.

Welcome aboard, Jeffrey!

Meet our Board of Directors and Leadership Team: harborhospicemi.org/about/our-leadership-team

08/19/2025

Thank You for Making the 18th Annual Harbor Hospice Regatta a Success!

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in this year’s Harbor Hospice Regatta at the Muskegon Yacht Club. With 20 boats on the water, 15 dedicated volunteers, and strong support from community and club members, the event was a powerful demonstration of what we can achieve together.

Thanks to your generosity, we raised $46,369 to support urgent capital improvements at the Leila & Cyrus Po**en Hospice Residence — including new kitchen equipment, HVAC systems, a generator, an accessible bathtub, and a new roof for the 12,000-square-foot facility. These essential upgrades are not covered by billing, making community support vital to maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for patients and their families.

We’re thrilled to share that an anonymous donor matched every dollar raised, bringing the total to an incredible $92,738!

Your support ensures that Harbor Hospice continues to provide compassionate care in a space that meets the needs of those we serve.

📷 Jennifer Green Photography

08/18/2025

We’re honored to welcome Brooke Kieft-Anderson, Senior Director of Human Resources at Imperial Dade (formerly Nichols), to the Harbor Hospice Board of Directors.

Brooke brings a passion for compassionate leadership and a deep commitment to our community. We’re grateful for her voice at the table as we continue to expand access to holistic, person-centered care for individuals and families across West Michigan.

Welcome, Brooke! We’re so glad you’re here!

Meet our Board of Directors and Leadership Team: harborhospicemi.org/about/our-leadership-team

08/14/2025

Thank you for celebrating 20 years of compassionate care at the Leila & Cyrus Po**en Hospice Residence.

What a meaningful event it was, honoring two decades of comfort, dignity, and support provided to families throughout West Michigan. Whether you joined us in person, shared your stories, or supported us from afar, we are grateful.

To our donors, volunteers, staff, and families, thank you! You help ensure no one in our community has to face life’s most tender moments alone.

As the only nonprofit hospice residence serving Muskegon, Ottawa, Oceana, Newaygo, and Mason counties, the Po**en Hospice Residence relies on community support to sustain its $2.5 million annual budget. This support ensures every person receives the right care at the right time—24 hours a day, in a setting that feels like home.

To carry this legacy forward, the Harbor Hospice Foundation has launched a $1 million community initiative for essential upgrades to the residence, including a new HVAC system, accessible bathtub, updated medical equipment, and refreshed indoor and outdoor spaces. These improvements will allow us to continue providing the best residential hospice care.

With a generous $500,000 matching gift, every donation you make today is doubled, amplifying the impact of your generosity.

To learn more about the Po**en Hospice Residence Sustainability Initiative and make a donation, visit harborhospicemi.org/poppen-hospice-residence-sustainability-initiative.

08/13/2025

It’s Harbor Hospice Regatta Day!

Join us today, August 13, at the Muskegon Yacht Club for a beautiful day on the lawn filled with fun, community spirit, and sailboat racing — all to support the Harbor Hospice Foundation and the Leila & Cyrus Po**en Hospice Residence! (You don't have to be a MYC member to enjoy the fun!)

Event Highlights (starting at 4PM)

🖍️ Sidewalk Chalk Contest (Ages 5–13) from 4:00–6:30 PM
🍦Ice Sundae Cream Bar by Sweet Temptations and Ice Cream Sandwiches made with Grand Finale Chocolate Chip Cookies
🍽️Pig Roast Dinner with all the fixings (Chicken available too)
🎟️Raffle Tickets — amazing prizes await!
🔓Unlock a Private Tour to Pigeon Hill Brewery

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Orthopaedic Associates of Muskegon
Eagle Alloy
Quality Tool And Stamping
Dethloff Insurance Agency
Warner Norcross + Judd

Thank you to our Raffle Prize Donors:

Blended Furniture Market
Bent Pine Golf Club
Pigeon Hill Brewing Company
Summerhouse Lavender Farm
Sue Syverson
Neil & Jennifer Hemphill
Mike & Jennifer Chupailo
Linda Allen
Richard & Phil McPherson

08/11/2025

Excitement is building for the 18th Annual Harbor Hospice Regatta on Wednesday, August 13 at the Muskegon Yacht Club!

A heartfelt thank-you goes out once again to Orthopaedic Associates of Muskegon (OAM) for their generous support as our Mainsail Sponsor. Their continued partnership plays a vital role in helping us meet important needs at the Leila & Cyrus Po**en Hospice Residence.

Regatta proceeds will support urgent capital improvements at the Po**en Hospice Residence, including kitchen equipment, HVAC units, a generator, an accessible bathtub, and a new roof for the 12,000-square-foot facility. Since these capital needs aren’t covered by billing, community support is essential to maintaining a safe and comfortable space for patients and families.

We’re truly grateful to OAM and all who help make this event possible.

Learn more about the Po**en Hospice Residence Sustainability Initiative here: https://harborhospicemi.org/poppen-hospice-residence-sustainability-initiative/

08/04/2025

For more than 30 years, Camp Courage, a program of Harbor Hospice has been a place where healing begins and friendships blossom. This June, over 30 campers and 20 dedicated volunteers came together at Pioneer Trails on Big Blue Lake for three unforgettable days of swimming, crafting, campfires, and heartfelt conversations.

Camp Courage isn’t just a camp—it’s a community where kids aged 6–14, all navigating the loss of a loved one, find comfort, connection, and courage.

Through facilitated sessions and one-on-one conversations, children at Camp Courage begin to understand they’re not alone in their grief. As one volunteer shared, "Camp Courage gives them a safe space to set down the emotional weight they've been carrying."

Thanks to the Harbor Hospice Foundation and generous supporters, families only pay a small $10 application fee—because every child deserves the chance to heal, regardless of cost.

Marking over 30 years of meaningful support and connection, Camp Courage continues to offer a place where kids facing loss can share, reflect, and grow. This summer carries that legacy forward—with quiet strength, open conversations, and the kind of care that lasts well beyond camp

07/31/2025

Honor a Loved One on the Trail of Tribute

Be part of something meaningful at the Horses for Harbor Hospice event on Saturday, September 20. Celebrate the life of someone special with a personalized Remembrance Trail Sign—featuring their name and photo—beautifully displayed along the scenic Trail of Tribute. (You do not have to be a rider to purchase a sign)

These 18x24 signs will be seen by riders throughout the event, offering a heartfelt way to share your loved one’s memory.

🔹 Cost: $25
🔹 Order online: https://bit.ly/4lTmOPN
🔹 Submit photo and name to: AWallace@HarborHospiceMI.org
🔹 Deadline to order: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

For full event details, visit: https://harborhospicemi.org/event/horses-for-harbor-hospice-2025/

07/26/2025

Thank you to the Oceana County Council on Aging for sharing your space with us to host our next Vet to Vet Cafe.

Veterans, we hope you can join us for this new social gathering.
Sponsored by Harbor Hospice MI