Drone view of Sojourn Center’s 27 acres of land with the building site in the central 6 acre field surrounded by woodlands

What is the current status of Sojourn Center?

Sojourn Center, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit made possible by a strong, 13-member Board of Directors and dozens of grassroots citizens of southwest Virginia. Since our beginning vision in 2007, Sojourn Center has made considerable progress toward three important goals:

Designing and building Sojourn Center Hospice House
Securing a partnership with a hospice agency operator
Developing community support and partnerships

Our most immediate need is to contract with a hospice agency to clinically operate the hospice house.

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When you support the mission of Sojourn Center, you help give terminally ill people and their families the opportunity to experience end-of-life care in a peaceful, meaningful way without discomfort. Through your support, you can honor the memory of your loved ones while helping others.

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Sojourn Center Timeline

2021

January – Launched new Sojourn Center website, www.sojourncenter.org. Automations Creations, Inc.

2020

January – Continued relationship with fundraising professionals at Capital Development Services, Winston-Salem, NC
February – Potential operating partnership declined “at this time”
- Consultation with another potential operating partner
March 1 – Sojourn Center declined Option to purchase B&B property
- Beginning of Covid-19 pandemic in United States
May 27 – Roanoke Times opinion article: “Why New River Needs Sojourn Center”
May 29 – Andy Morikawa & SC Executive Committee strategic planning consultation
June – Randi Lemmon, land planning consultant, completed pro bono preliminary evaluation report to provide valuation range of market value of SC land
August – Pro bono aerial drone photography of SC property by Shaun Lacy
Sojourn Center board meetings adapted to the Covid-19 pandemic with ZOOM
September – SC and Bon Secours Community Hospice House in Richmond, VA share ZOOM consultation
October – Virtual ZOOM tour with 12 SC board/friends of Bon Secours Community Hospice House
- Explored partnerships with several potential hospice and palliative care operators
- SC Executive Committee attended ZOOM Re-Envisioning Philanthropy workshop 2020 hosted by Capital Development

2019

January – SC board member, Sue Ranson, retired as CEO of Good Samaritan Hospice; Aaron Housh chosen new CEO
Board members shared their Sojourn Center passion around the board table
February – Informational program to Blacksburg Noon Kiwanis
March – Informational presentation to group of local medical professionals
April – Doey’s Hospice House Hospice of Washington County (12-bed facility in Hagerstown, MD designed by our architect, Tom Mullinax) awarded 1st place 2018 ABC Excellence in Construction / Healthcare Facility
Spring – Several “friend” groups toured Sojourn Center property
- Continued friend-raising with many individuals in community
Friends toured the Sojourn Center property off Farmview Drive
May – Informational program for Christ Episcopal Church, Blacksburg
June – Pro bono bush hogging of property by Greg Miller of Willow Springs Farms
- Fashion show and luncheon at Blacksburg Country Club with SC as keynote for Blacksburg Battles Cancer
- Trip of 4 SC members/friends to Forest Rest Natural Cemetery Rocky Mount, VA to explore green burial information
July, August – Hospice General Inpatient Bed Needs Analysis by Evolve Consulting Group, Inc. received
Fall – Researched and explored an option to purchase and renovate a former bed & breakfast property in Blacksburg for the hospice house project
- Visit to Forest Rest Natural Cemetery in Rocky Mount, VA
  Conversations with potential operating partners about renovation of an existing building
- Conversation with Blacksburg Parks & Recreation about the Huckleberry Trail
October – Significant donations received In Memory of Suzan Mauney, Glenn McMillion, & Bill Isenhour
- Informational program for Blacksburg Newcomers
- Received $1,000 Outreach Grant from Christ Episcopal Church

2018

January – Met with Jessica Wirgau, Community Foundation of the NRV
February – Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Tax Exemption Request meeting
May – Met with Town of Blacksburg Zoning official
June – Informational presentation for Blacksburg Partnership
- Public hearing on Montgomery County real estate tax exemption; exemption passed
Rhonda Rogers and Anne Campbell participated in the AARP/VCOM Health Fair
July – Met with John Eustis, New River Land Trust
August – Attended one-day non-profit development conference in Asheville, NC sponsored by Capital Development
September – Met with VA Delegate Chris Hurst
- Sojourn Center participants in AARP/VCOM Health Fair
- Met with Blacksburg Town Council work session re: real estate tax exemption
October – Blacksburg Town Council Public Hearing re: tax exemption, passed favorably 7 – 0

Map of the Sojourn Center property donated by Roger Woody

2017

February – Met with Karen Roberto and Pam Teaster, Virginia Tech Department of Gerontology
- Interview with Roanoke Times medical editor, Luanne Rife
March – 2nd grant from JMM for services of Rob Glenn, RG Research, LLC, non-profit consultant, to advise SC board
May – Launched new website designed by Automations Creations, Inc.
- May 22 Donation of 27-acres of land from Roger Woody!
- Roger Woody made a 27-acres of land donation to Sojourn Center
  May 25 – SC hosted neighborhood informational session about Woody property
- May 25 – SC Board met with Charlie Phlegar, VP of Advancement, Virginia Tech
- May 27 – SC Board took 1st tour on donated land
September – 4-week hospice article series in the Roanoke Times
- Visited Mountain Valley Hospice &Palliative Care hospice houses in Dodson and Yadkinville, NC by 8 Sojourn members/friends
- Visited Transitions LifeCare Hospice in Raleigh, NC
Board met with Allan Burroughs of Capital Development in Winston-Salem
October – Withdrawal from LOI by a potential operating partner
December – Met with Capital Development Services from Winston-Salem, NC. Capital Development, Allan Burroughs, President, selected as SC fundraising consultants

February – Met with agency COO, CFO re: potential partnership
Board member, Rick DiSalvo, is always fun on a road trip!
March – Draper Aden Associates Civil Engineering Company and Blaine Keesee, landscape architect, offered pro bono Phase 1 Environmental Study Assessment report on possible land donation property from Roger Woody
March – Met with potential operating partner CFO re: pro forma
- Discussion with Kissito PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly, Josh McGilliard, Executive Director) re: NRV program
April – Met with Blacksburg Zoning and Planning Departments
- Signed LOI (Letter of Intent) to partner with area hospice agency
May – Completion of Phase 1 ESA study by Draper Aden
July – Formation and meeting of Ad Hoc Steering Committee re: Capital Campaign; Charles & Nancy Warren, facilitators; Ray Smoot, Jim Rakes, Bob Sterrett, Lindsay West, Anne Campbell & Rob Glenn
- July – Met with Roger Woody and Jim Wesel, CPA to discuss land donation
Summer – Completed contractual relationship with Balzer & Associates
- Continued conversations with potential operator
September – Meeting of SC Ad Hoc Committee
- SC participant in AARP/VCOM Health Fair Christiansburg
Fall – Research and informational meetings with potential operator
- Met with John Leehman, neighborhood leader of homes adjacent to Woody property
- Met with Craig Meadows, Montgomery County Administrator re: real estate tax exemption
- Informational presentation for Lion’s Club
December – Met with Blacksburg Town Manager, Marc Vermeil, and Town Attorney, Larry Spencer, and John Bush, town council and SC board member
- Met with Warm Hearth CEO, Ferne Moschella

2015

Peyton Hospice House in Lewisburg, WV
January – Visited Peyton Hospice House of HospiceCare in Lewisburg, WV
February – Met with potential operating partner’s COO, director of hospice and Larry Robertson, President of HospiceCare in WV
March – Conference call with National Association for Home Care & Hospice re: multiagency efforts in the United States
October – Warm Hearth & Carilion partner together to build and operate a medical clinic at Warm Hearth Village
- Met with leadership team: COO, CFO, Hospice Director to discuss partnership
Patient bedroom at Peyton Hospice House
November – SC Land Team met with Roger Woody to discuss idea of 27-acre land donation to Sojourn Center

2014

Spring – Visited directors/representatives of all area hospice agencies
April – Conference calls with Tim Rogers, President CEO Association of Home Care and Hospice of North Carolina
- Met with Delegate Joseph Yost
Gardens at the Crystal Coast Hospice House, Newport, NC
April – Donation of $10,000 from Dr. Harry McCoy, his monetary award upon receiving the Frist Humanitarian National Award of HCA
July – Met with Virginia Department of Health Office of Licensure & Certification in Richmond on options for multiagency leadership in a hospice house project
August – Visited Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, NC

2013

February – Met with Fred Kyle, Virginia Department of Health Richmond
Gardens surrounding North Carolina hospice house
April – SC presentation at 7th Annual Palliative Care Partnership of the New River Valley Conference at VCOM Event Center
- Visited Sentara Hospice House in Virginia Beach, VA
May – Completion of Pro Forma finance forms
- Roanoke Times article published about Sojourn Center project, “Blacksburg Group plans New River Valley Hospice Center”
- SC interviewed by WUVT 90.7 Table radio show
June – Three board members attended 3-day Hospice House Network Inpatient Conference in Rochester, New York
Butterflies, known as a hospice symbol of transformation, hope, life, and spirit
September – Met with LewisGale Hospital – Montgomery CEO, COO, CFO, CNO
- Met with potential partner’s COO, CFO, VP and hospice director
December – Hospice House Demand Methods & Projections for the New River Valley document completed for the leadership team of potential partner

2012

January – Educational luncheon sponsored by John Dooley with Virginia Tech leaders
Keith Curtis delivered feasibility report to the Sojourn Center board
February – Completion of preliminary study to determine Sojourn Center’s fundraising potential with The Curtis Group from Virginia Beach
Spring – SC board changed model from ALF to “in-patient hospice facility” as defined by Virginia Department of Health to include care of critical patients and treatments. New focus for SC on partnering with a hospice provider operator
Spring, Summer & Fall – Visited approximately 70 community members, Warm Hearth, medical and hospice leaders to inform about SC including Senator John Edwards, Delegate Joseph Yost
- Interviewed Andrew Reed, CPA with MultiView Systems in NC exclusively focused on financial management of hospice agencies and houses
Bedroom at Burke County Hospice House in Valdese, NC
Summer – Received $10,000 grant from JMM grant for services of Rob Glenn, RG Research, LLC, non-profit consultant to advise SC board
August – Visited Burke Hospice & Palliative Care in Valdese, NC
September – Visited Hospice of Rockingham County in Reidsville, NC
October – Visited Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester, VA
November – Toured Warm Hearth property with architect, Tom Mullinax

2011

January – Signed contract with Wes Baker of Trenchinteractive.com for web design of www.sojourncenter.org
- Completion of Sojourn Center green mountain logo by Wayne Thomas
- 1st printing of business and note cards
February – Selected Balzer and Associates architectural firm for beginning architectural programming
- Received $4,000 grant from Luther Memorial Lutheran Church
- Received $1,500 funding from Blacksburg Presbyterian Community Ministry Committee
Andy Morikawa and Linda Tegarden at the Strategic Planning Workshop May 2011
March – Visited Bedford House president (building under construction)
- Memorial gifts received in memory of Herb Miller
- 1st SC flyer developed by Janet Keith Ellenbogen
April – Visited Duke’s Hock Pavilion Hospice Facility in Durham, NC and Duke’s Hospice at the Meadowlands Hospice House in Hillsborough, NC
- Visited with Delegate Jim Shuler
- Application accepted for VA Registration for a Charitable Organization
- Continued presenting community group and individual meetings
- Visited Hospice & Palliative Care Center of Alamance-Caswell in Burlington, NC
May – Visited Shenandoah House in Fishersville, VA,
- May 22 SC Board and Friends Strategic Planning Workshop at BPC; Facilitator, Andy Morikawa, 22 attendees
June – Visited Burke Hospice and Palliative Care in Valdese, NC
Tom Mullinax, Sojourn Center architect
July – Received $17,000 grant from Blacksburg Presbyterian Church Endowment Funds for feasibility study
- Hired Tom Mullinax, architect/owner Hospice Design Resources as primary designer. Tom has designed over 50 hospice facilities in U.S.
September – SC Board met with Keith Curtis of The Curtis Fundraising Group from Virginia Beach re: feasibility study
November – Architectural Programming meeting with Tom Mullinax and Craig Balzer and 15 SC members

2010

March – Community educational luncheon at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church; 43 attendees
April – SC application made for 501(c)(3) non-profit status from US Treasury
May- 4 Visited Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, WV
Spring/Summer – Community presentations to Blacksburg United Methodist Church, Christiansburg Blacksburg Rotary Club, NRV Parish Nurses, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Chapter AU PEO, Blacksburg Noon Rotary
June – Received $7,640 endowment grant from Blacksburg Presbyterian Church
Summer – Consultation meeting with Minnis Ridenhour
- Formed 3 working teams: Architect Selection, Market and Media, and Land Acquisition
- Continued informational presentations to community civic clubs
- SC approval for 501(c)(3) non-profit status
- Visited Williamsburg Hospice House
Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, WV
Fall – Formation of Market & Media Team: Pam Forsythe, Linda Tegarden, Cindy Easterwood, Nancy Valett, Janet Keith Ellenbogen
- Met with Heather Gearhart from Warm Hearth about land/building availability
- Architectural Selection Team invited proposals from 13 architectural firms from which 4 were selected for interviews;
- Formation of SC Land Acquisition Team: Greg Campbell, Brad Denardo, Mike Eggleston, Pam Forsythe
December – Began architectural firm interviews

2009

1st Sojourn Center logo 2009
Spring & Summer – Developed extensive business plan with initial financial projections: Linda Tegarden, Reed Kennedy, Cindi Easterwood, Anne Campbell
- Selected consultant architect, Tom Mullinax, Hospice Design Resources to advise Balzer & Associates
September – Articles of Incorporation submitted to State Corporation Committee by Steve Wagner
- Peter Ozolin reserved domain name, www.sojourncenter.org
Board Mini-Retreat October 2009
October – Mini-Retreat at BPC; Andy Morikawa, facilitator, 10 attendees
- Peter Ozolin and Donald Sunshine presented 1st SC visual image
- Reviewed 501(c)3 application process
- Adopted the ALF model for Sojourn Center with the intent of creating an independent facility served by multiple hospice agencies – not a true “hospice facility” by Virginia regulations. (This plan would change.)

2008

January – NRV Assessment Survey of Potential Patient Referral Facilities document: 3 hospitals and 3 ALFs by Dr. Tina Smusz and Pam Forsyth, RN
Greg Campbell and Steve Wagner serve Sojourn Center’s legal needs
April – Research and presentations about 11 hospice houses by 35 MBA students of Linda Tegarden, VT Business Management professor
May – NREOLC organizational meeting with Andy Morikawa
- Opened PO Box 295 Blacksburg, VA 24063
- Interim board of directors formed with Founding Members: Nancy Valett, RN, Pam Forsythe, RN, Dr. Tina Smusz, Connie Fitzsimmons, RN, Anne Campbell, Peter Ozolin, Dr. Harry McCoy, Donald & Joanna Sunshine; Founding Advisors: Financial, Cindy Easterwood; Structure, Andy Morikawa; Legal, Greg Campbell & Steve Wagner
June – Steve Wagner approached re: by-laws and necessary organizational papers
September – Reed Kennedy consulted re: business plan
Fall – Name Sojourn Center (suggested by Dr. Tina Smusz) chosen. Sojourn meaning a temporary stay, an interlude in a journey
November – Blue mountains logo designed by Aimee Drysdale Design
December – Sojourn Center name reserved with VA State Corporation Commission

2007

September – Initial meeting of ten community members to discuss establishment of a hospice house in the New River Valley: Dr. Tina Smusz, Dr. Harry McCoy, Peter Ozolin, Pam Forsyth, RN; Nancy Valett, RN; Connie Fitzsimmons, RN; Donald and Joanna Sunshine, Anne and Greg Campbell
October – First meeting with temporary name New River EOL Center

This we wish for you above all else; comfort for you pain, respite from your sorrow, memory unyoked from regret, and peace for today and all your days.