Willamette Community Bank Supports Evergreen Hospice House

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“Sometimes it takes a grass-roots effort to identify and work together to meet a community need,” said Dave Wood, president and CEO of Willamette Community Bank in Albany and a director on the Albany General Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.

“That is just what is happening with Evergreen Hospice House,” he explained. “Like building a barn, it’s something that is needed so everybody chips in and does their part.”

Wood corralled local financial institutions together for a special meeting and helped present the hospice house as the kind of community project that benefits the entire region. “It’s an endearing project that will provide vital services to patients and families,” he said.

Financial leaders have joined together and agreed to support the hospice house campaign with pledges in support of a public family space within the new hospice facility. The idea was to harness the financial resources to support the hospice house development and provide the seed money to see it to fruition, according to Wood.

“Willamette Community Bank took a leadership role and motivated others to share the cost,” said Kim Sass, Albany General Hospital Foundation director. Willamette Community Bank was the first financial institution to formally support the campaign.

The bank’s employees and customers can now see a banner showing support for the hospice house at its facility at 333 Lyons Street in Albany. “We are grateful for their support, and we hope their enthusiasm will spread to encourage others to get involved,” said Sass.

“We all have friends, employees and neighbors who have been touched by hospice,” said Wood. “And, a house where patients can go for round-the-clock hospice care is a nugget of goodness that surely makes all of us want to embrace it.”

Wood said he would like to let businesses throughout the region know that this is the time to consider donating time, talent and treasures to the hospice house because it will leave a legacy far beyond our lifetimes.

Financial institutions “raise the

barn” for hospice

The current list includes:

• Central Willamette Community Credit Union

• Citizens Bank, West Albany branch

• Linn-Co Federal Credit Union

• Northwest Farm Credit Services

• OSU Federal Credit Union

• US Bank

• Willamette Community Bank

Dave Wood, CEO Willamette Community Bank