Hospice of the Western Reserve annual meeting Nov. 17 to focus on storytelling

Ivan Schwarz of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission will join "best actor" award winner James Madio at "Tell Your Story" on  Nov. 17. The public is invited to the free event.    

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Hospice of the Western Reserve invites residents of Westlake, Bay Village and the surrounding West Shore area to join staff and volunteers at its 37th annual meeting, Tell Your Story,” on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 5 to 7 p.m., in the Cleveland Convention Center Ballroom, 300 Lakeside Ave. Admission is free; complimentary valet parking will be provided.

Keynote speakers are Ivan Schwarz, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, and award-winning actor, director and producer James Madio, well known for his role as Sgt. Frank Perconte in the award-winning HBO miniseries, “Band of Brothers.” Hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine will be served at 5 p.m.; the evening’s program begins at 5:30 p.m. Registration (requested) is available online at hospicewr.org/story or by phone at 216-383-5291.

This year’s theme, “Tell Your Story,” shines a spotlight on the deeper work of hospice and the significance storytelling plays in communicating values, memories and traditions.

“Everyone wants to be remembered. Storytelling provides an avenue to creating a lasting legacy that will live on and be treasured by loved ones and future generations,” said Bill Finn, President and CEO of Hospice of the Western Reserve. “We’re honored that two of Hollywood’s master storytellers – the Greater Cleveland Film Commission’s President and CEO, Ivan Schwarz, and two-time ‘best actor’ award winner James Madio – will be joining us to provide rare glimpses into their craft and to share their personal insights.”  

“We’ll also be recognizing individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond to assist us in sharing the hospice mission across the communities we serve,” Finn said.

This year’s honorees will be:

• Cindy L. Steeb, a member of the Medina County Advisory Board, who played a pivotal role in the merger of HMC Hospice of Medina County and Hospice of the Western Reserve 

• 107.3-FM, The Wave, for the station’s important role as a community ambassador

• Lubrizol Corporation, for the extraordinary dedication and support of its corporate volunteers

• Dr. Nick Dreher, Chief Medical Officer, HealthSpan, for his continuous advocacy for quality at the end of life

Hospice of the Western Reserve has a few special surprises in store this year. “Forget what you thought you knew about annual meetings,” Finn said. “This one will be very different. The call to serve and commitment we all share will be dramatized in a way we think will be inspiring and entertaining. We encourage everyone in the community interested in learning more about our work to join us.” 

Hospice of the Western Reserve provides end-of-life care, caregiver support and grief support services for families throughout Northern Ohio. Care is provided in individuals' own homes, in nursing and assisted living centers at and in Westlake's Ames Famly Hospice House and Cleveland's David Simpson Hospice House.