Employer of the Year Award

The Employer of the Year Award is given annually to an organization that has provided substantial and comprehensive support to its employees through professional development, education, and certification opportunities.

Eligibility

Current Employer Partner

Criteria

Your organization provides financial support for professional development, education, and certification purposes for hospice and palliative care
Your organization demonstrates formal recognition of education and certification for hospice and palliative care
Your organization supports professional development through hospice and palliative care education and certification

Please note, organizations cannot be selected more than once in a five-year period. Additionally, organizations that employ members of the HPNA or HPCC Board of Directors are not eligible to receive this award.

Judging

All nominations are reviewed and the recipient is selected by the Awards Selection Committee of HPCC

The deadline to apply is June 1, 2025.

Apply

HPCC Employer of the Year Award Recipients

2025 – Harbor Hospice

Harbor Hospice, originally founded as Hospice of Muskegon County in 1983 under the leadership of Sue Wierengo, has been pioneering compassionate, holistic end-of-life care for more than 40 years. Starting with an interdisciplinary hospice team in 1984, Harbor Hospice has continually expanded its scope and services to support patients and families in five counties along the West Michigan lakeshore.

In 2005, the organization opened the Leila and Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence, a fully funded space dedicated to patients requiring specialized care outside their homes. The establishment of Harbor Palliative Care in 2006, led by Gerald Harriman, further reinforced Harbor’s commitment to symptom management and quality of life for seriously ill patients.

Today, Harbor Hospice honors veterans through the national We Honor Veterans initiative, provides enriching therapies as part of our circle of care—such as art, music, and massage—and continues to expand services to reach underserved areas. At the heart of its work is the Bob and Merle Scolnik Healing Center, offering transformative grief support services free of charge to all in the community. The Harbor Hospice Foundation, established in 2015, supports these and other programs and services of Harbor Hospice.

Guided by the commitment of the staff, volunteers, and board of directors, Harbor Hospice remains dedicated to its mission: to walk alongside patients and families at every step of their journey, providing compassionate, expert care, comfort, and support to those facing serious illness or nearing the end of life.

2018 – 2024

2024: Hospice of Central Ohio
2023: Treasure Coast Hospice
2022: Evergreen Health, Kirkland Washington
2021: Care Dimensions, Inc.
2020: Hospice of the Western Reserve, Cleveland Ohio
2019: Hospice of Miami County, Troy, Ohio
2018: Main Line Health System, Radnor Pennsylvania
2017 – Kindred Hospice, San Marcos, Texas
2016 – Hospice & Community Care, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
2015 – Hospice Family Care, Huntsville, Alabama
2014 – Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg, Ohio
2013 – Hospice of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
2012 – Hospice Care of South Carolina, Spartanburg, South Carolina
2011 – York Hospital WellSpan Health, York, Pennsylvania
2010 – Hospice of Southern Illinois, Belleville, Illinois
2009 – Hospice of Southern Illinois, Belleville, Illinois
2008 – Home Hospice, Odessa, Texas
2007 – Hospice of the Comforter, Altamonte Springs, Florida
2006 – Columbus Hospice, Columbus, Georgia