The Benefits of Giving

By: Dr. Lynn Euzenas

Director of Spiritual Care & Bereavement Services

Dear Friends:

As we celebrate 35 years of serving our community, I am ever grateful and cognizant of the fact that the works of compassion and service which we do at Hospice of the Valleys rest firmly upon the foundation of your generosity. Through events like our signature Win and Chocolate Event, gifts of time, effort, creativity, heart and soul, match generous financial supports to help provide excellent care for all of our patients, regardless of an inability to pay.

The benefits of giving have been eloquently and frequently extolled. We are all the richer when we give, and our humanity shines in new ways in the light of generosity. Gratefulness for such gifts refreshes us all on a soul level.

The effects of giving are profound, as well. These effects are mirrored powerfully in a song often requested by our hospice families at our Services of Remembrance:

"You Raise Me Up."

When I am down, and, oh, my soul, so weary
When trouble come, and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up to more than I can be
You raise me up to more than I can be

The powerful effect of giving is transformative. It changes lives. It creates lasting memory. It becomes the embodiment of loving presence. Robert Ingersoll has written, "We rise by lifting others."

Your continued generosity lifts us up, liberates hearts and provides healing, touches and comforts, and leads by its tender example. You make us more than all we could hop to be.

We thank you.

Dr. Lynn L. Euzenas

Giving from the Heart

Dr. Leslee B. Cochrane

Executive Medical Director

If I told you that I had a pill that would lower your blood pressure, prevent depression, prolong your life, and make you happy would you be interested? This miracle product is also 100% natural and free of any negative side effects and the best part of all is that you can try it for free. Just in case you are thinking that this sounds too good to be true, what I am talking about is not actually a pill; it is volunteering. Numerous studies have shown the above mentioned health benefits are enjoyed by individuals who volunteer; but the amount of benefit seems to vary based on how much you volunteer and why you volunteer. Several studies show that those who volunteer out of a desire to help others, receive greater health benefits than those who volunteer primarily out of self oriented motivations such as self enhancement.

In a fascinating study published in 2012 by the American Psychological Association, researchers followed a group of over 10,000 adults who graduated from high school in 1957. They discovered that although volunteering in general had significant health benefits, the benefits were closely related to how regularly people volunteered and why they volunteered. The study examined death rates between 2004 and 2008 to determine if there were any differences in death rate for those who did not volunteer was 4.3% as compared to only 2.3% in those volunteered occasionally and only 1.8% for those who volunteered regularly. This means that those who volunteered regularly were nearly 2 and a half times more likely to out-survive those who did not volunteer. This suggests that those who give from the heart out of a sense of gratitude and generosity seem to enjoy greater benefits than those who give based on self oriented motivations.

Based on these results, I strongly encourage everyone to follow your heart and find a church, hospital or other organization that shares your values and ask them about volunteer opportunities. Hospice of the Valleys was founded by volunteers and has been providing compassionate care during loss for over 35 years. If you would like to learn more about becoming a member of our amazing team of volunteers please give us a call at 951-200-7800 or inquire on the web at https://hospiceofthevalleys.org/.

On July 18th, 2018, Menifee city council member Greg August presented the Outstanding Citizen Award Anthony "Chris" Christopher, for his volunteer work at Hospice of the Valleys, a nonprofit hospice that has been serving the community since 1982. Chris was recognized for his service to our country, our community and his work with Hospice of the Valleys We Honor Veterans program. Chris also serves as a current Hospice of the Valleys Board Member.

An enormous THANK YOU to the Colony Women's Golf Club for choosing Hospice of the Valleys for the 6th year in a row to be a recipient of their annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser. This group of fabulous women represent generosity and kindness in the biggest of ways and we couldn't be more grateful. What a special day each year it is each year to be among this wonderful group. Thank you so very much!