I am forever changed — you will not be forgotten.

As co-chairs of the 25th annual Trinity Hospice Ball, we invite you to participate in a very important event. The 2017 Hospice Ball is about recognizing loss, thanking caregivers and providing support for UnityPoint Hospice. This program not only serves individuals facing a life-limiting illness, but provides expert medical care, pain and symptom management as well as emotional and spiritual support tailored to meet the patient’s and family’s needs and wishes.

Hospice is very important to us — three of the four of us have chosen health care as our professions and all of have lost a loved one. Thankfully, hospice was there and played a critical role in one of the toughest times of our lives. Death is always going to be a natural progression, but if you are fortunate to have hospice present and helping you navigate the process, death can be a meaningful experience.

This year is the 25th annual Trinity Hospice Ball. We’ve come a long way since 1992. Our crowd has grown and a few years ago, we to moved to a new location — the Best Wesern Starlite Village Inn & Suites in Fort Dodge, but we still have the same great DJ, Dean Vinchattle. Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with a buffet dinner served at 7 p.m. You will want to save room for mouthwatering treats at the dessert bar provided by some of our best local bakers. A short program with the announcement of the 2017 Debbie Hofbauer Compassionate Caregiver Award, presented to a hospice employee who has exemplified values of respect, excellence, attitude, teamwork and trust, will follow dinner with dancing beginning at 8:30 p.m.

UnityPoint at Home/Hospice is very fortunate to have the support of so many committed and talented individuals who work as nurses, social workers, hospice aids, chaplains, volunteers, therapists, including massage, music, physical and occupational, and clerical and administrative support personnel. In 2016, UnityPoint at Home achieved a “5-star” rating by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and has been named as a provider in the HomeCare Elite report. This nationally significant report names the top 25 percent of home health agencies based on key home health quality and performance measures.

The proceeds from the ball will be used to provide staff education, family education materials, bereavement programs and Hospice volunteer training. Our staff works hard to see special occasions in our patients’ lives like baptisms, weddings and birthdays are recognized and celebrated. Additionally, the funds raised are used to obtain patient supplies and equipment. Other items such as communication devices, music, library resources, supplies to assist dementia patients, and end of life care for individuals without a pay source are made possible by the generosity of our community.

We will again be utilizing a mobile bidding service, Gesture, for our Silent Auction. This is a relatively new process for everyone and we encourage individuals to preregister, as this is the only way to place bids on our Silent Auction items. If you attended the ball last year, you probably found it to be an easy way to bid and it added a fun and competitive spirit to the bidding process.

If you don’t have a smartphone, “personal shoppers” will be available to place bids for you. Additionally, if you do not plan to attend the Ball, you can still bid on auction items utilizing your cellphone, tablet or computer by logging on at home. Several people did this last year and found it a fun way to participate. To learn more or preregister visit www.unitypoint.org /Foundation (Fort Dodge). You may also call Trinity Foundation at 574-6509.

We invite you to experience the 25th annual Trinity Hospice Ball on Feb. 4.

Everyone who comes to the ball has a different connection, but we all share the same passion — to support UnityPoint Hospice. We are grateful for your support and belief in providing compassionate care and dignity for those who are facing a terminal illness.

Drs. Elizabeth Day and Mark Berry and Amy and Luke Palmer are co-chairs for the 2017 Hospice Ball. Dr. Elizabeth Day is director of Hospital Medicine at UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center. Dr. Mark Berry is a cardiologist at Iowa Heart Center. Amy Palmer, RN, BSN, is a Quality Partner, Fort Dodge Region, UnityPoint Clinic. Luke Palmer is a member of the Trinity Foundation board of directors and senior operations Manager for CJ Bio America.

Tickets to the 25th annual Trinity Hospice Ball

Corporate Sponsor = $1,200 (includes presence on mobile bidding website, reserved table for 8, drink tickets, special recognition at event)

Reserved table for eight = $600

Reserved table for four = $300

Individual tickets = $40 through Jan. 27; $50 after Jan. 27, 2017.

Raffle Tickets: (One for $10; three for $25)

Seven prizes:

$500 Hy-Vee Gift Card (one)

$250 Target Gift Card (one)

$50 Casey Gift Cards (five)

Send check and contact information, including telephone and address to:

Trinity Foundation

Attn: Hospice Ball

802 Kenyon Road

Fort Dodge, IA 50501