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
HPCC Employer of the Year Award Recipients
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.
- 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